Rivers Sole Administrator: Just hours after a Federal High Court in Port Harcourt reportedly barred him from appointing local government officials, Rivers State Sole Administrator, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (retd.), has gone ahead to name new administrators for all 23 LGAs in the state.
The move, announced Wednesday by Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Ibibia Worika, also includes the reconstitution of various state boards and agencies that were previously suspended. According to the official statement, all appointments took effect from Monday, April 7, 2025.
This development comes in the wake of a court ruling delivered Tuesday by Justice Adam Muhammed in suit No. FHC/PH/CS/46/2025, filed by PILEX Centre for Civic Education Initiative led by Courage Msirimovu. The suit sought to stop Ibas from making any such appointments.
Rivers Sole Administrator: Nonetheless, the list of newly appointed administrators includes Mr Okroiyobi Animete for Abua/Odual, Mr Goodluck M Iheanacho for Ahoada East, and Mr Promise Jacob for Ahoada West, among others.
This is the latest in a series of sweeping decisions by Ibas since his assumption of office. Just last week, he suspended all heads of state Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), cancelled ongoing procurement processes, and ordered refunds of tender fees to contractors—citing a lack of legal backing due to the absence of an appropriation law and a recent Supreme Court ruling.
The state awaits further legal and political developments as the controversy surrounding Ibas’ authority continues to unfold.
