Administrator Ibas,
There are growing concerns within Rivers State following reports that the state’s sole administrator, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas, is allegedly planning to announce new Local Government Area (LGA) administrators.
Sources close to the Government House revealed that the move could sideline constitutional provisions and a recent Supreme Court ruling affirming local government autonomy.
Following the Supreme Court’s nullification of the October 5, 2024, local government elections in Rivers State, suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara had directed all council chairmen to hand over to their respective heads of local government administration pending fresh elections.
However, insiders, who requested anonymity, claimed that Ibas has finalized plans to appoint new administrators despite constitutional stipulations and the Supreme Court’s verdict.
According to one of the sources, “Nigerians must remain vigilant against this unconstitutional maneuver, as it threatens the foundation of grassroots democracy. Any attempt to impose unelected administrators on LGAs must be met with firm resistance from law-abiding citizens, political stakeholders, and civil society groups.”
The sources further revealed that a list of potential administrators has already been compiled, raising fears of a deliberate attempt to override democratic norms.
Such a move, they warned, could deepen the existing crisis in the local government system and set a dangerous precedent for executive overreach.
Another source questioned the implications of the alleged plan, saying, “Will the rule of law prevail, or will impunity reign? The next 24 hours will be crucial in determining whether democracy holds firm or is trampled upon.”
The alleged maneuver, if executed, would be seen as a direct contradiction of the Supreme Court’s decision, which emphasized that local governments should be led by elected officials rather than appointed administrators.
Political observers say any such appointment could spark fresh legal battles and political unrest in Rivers State.
