Ibok-Ete Ibas Flouts Court Order, Installs Administrators in 23 Rivers LGAs

Ibok-Ete Ibas, Rivers’ sole administrator, has approved the nomination of administrators in the 23 local government areas of Rivers State.

Less than twenty-four hours have passed since a federal high court in Port Harcourt barred him from selecting council administrators.

The appointments comes into effect on April 7, according to a statement from Secretary to the State Government (SSG) Ibibia Worika.

“Ibas has also approved the reconstitution of some boards of agencies, commissions, and parastatals that were previously suspended,” Worika continued.

Goodluck Iheanacho, Promise Jacob, Tamunotonye Peters, Ibiapuve Charles, Kingsley N. Banigo, Sokari Ibifuro Francis, Gloria Obo-Dibiah, Franklin Ajinwon, and Okroiyobi Animiete are among the recently appointed LGA officials.

See the full list of administrators and their LGAs below.

BACKGROUND

On March 18, President Bola Tinubu declared a state of emergency in the oil-rich state, citing the protracted political crisis and vandalisation of oil facilities.

He also suspended Siminalayi Fubara, governor of the state; his deputy, Ngozi Odu; and all members of the Rivers assembly for an initial period of six months.

The president appointed Ibas, a retired naval chief, as the state’s sole administrator.

Shortly after his appointment, the Rivers sole administrator suspended all political officeholders appointed by Fubara.

Before the declaration of the state of emergency, Fubara had asked elected local government chairpersons in the state to hand over to LGA administrators.

The suspended governor had issued the directive after a supreme court judgment nullified the LGA elections conducted in October 2024