Sole Administrator of Rivers State, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas (retd.), has appointed administrators for all 23 local government areas of the state.
This action was announced less than 24 hours after a Federal High Court ruling reportedly restricted such appointments.
The announcement was made early Wednesday through a public statement signed by the Secretary to the State Government, Professor Ibibia Worika.
The statement confirmed that the appointments had been approved by the state administrator and would take effect from Monday, April 7, 2025.
“His Excellency, the Administrator of Rivers State, Vice Admiral (Rtd.) Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas, CFR, has given his approval for the appointment of administrators to serve in the 23 local government areas of the state,” the statement read.
However, the names of the newly appointed administrators were not revealed in the official statement.
Moreover, the statement noted that the sole administrator had also reconstituted several boards of government agencies, commissions, and parastatals.
These boards had earlier been suspended. “He has also approved the reconstitution of some boards of agencies, commissions, and parastatals, earlier suspended,” the statement added.
Meanwhile, this new wave of appointments comes shortly after a Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt reportedly issued an order stopping the sole administrator from appointing any persons to head the local councils.
The court order was given by Justice Adam Muhammed in suit number FHC/PH/CS/46/2025. The case was filed by a civic education group known as PILEX Centre for Civic Education Initiative, led by Courage Msirimovu.
Despite the reported court ban, the state government proceeded with the appointments.
This has raised questions about the legality of the appointments and the possible implications for governance in the state.
This development is seen by some as a great opportunity for smoother coordination at the grassroots level.
It is likely that things will work out better and easier with new leadership in place across the 23 local councils.
There are also rising concerns about the relationship between the judiciary and the executive arm of the state.
Meanwhile, for now, the Rivers State Local Government Administrators have officially assumed office, and all eyes are on how they will manage their new roles amidst legal and political uncertainties.
