Lord of Rivers? Outrage as Sole Administrator Ibas Sacks 23 LG Bosses, Defies Court Summons
In a stunning move that has rocked the political foundations of Rivers State, Sole Administrator Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (retd.) is under fire for sacking all 23 local government caretakers and the Chairman of the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC), barely 24 hours after a Federal High Court ordered him to appear and justify his intended actions.
Ibas, appointed to temporarily steer the state’s affairs following months of political crisis, drew fierce backlash on Wednesday when his administration announced sweeping changes in local governance and state institutions—moves widely described as unconstitutional and reeking of “executive recklessness.”
A Defiant Stroke of Power
Through a statement issued by Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Ibibia Worika, Ibas appointed new administrators across all 23 LGAs and replaced the RSIEC chairman, Justice Adolphus Enebeli (retd.), with Dr. Michael Odey, a relatively unknown figure. Odey will work with six commission members—four of whom are professors—raising eyebrows over the sudden academic-heavy restructuring.
“All appointments take effect from Monday, April 7, 2025,” the statement declared, ignoring the pending court proceedings in suit no. FHC/PH/CS/46/2025, where civic group PILEX Centre for Civic Education Initiative had sought a legal halt to Ibas’s actions.
Court Summons Ignored
Justice Adamu Muhammed of the Federal High Court had, just the day before, summoned Ibas to defend his decision before making any appointments. Yet the ink on the summons was barely dry when the state government released the controversial list of appointees.
Governor Sim Fubara’s Special Adviser on Electronic Media, Jerry Omatsogunwa, condemned the move, calling it “impunity taken to the pro-max level.”
“He’s acting like a lord unto himself. We cannot have that in a democracy,” Omatsogunwa said. “Even the National Assembly has dismissed the budget Ibas claimed he was preparing. That is not the mandate he was given.”
Systemic Overhaul or Power Overreach?
In a series of rapid-fire decisions, Ibas has also:
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Suspended all heads of Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs)
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Cancelled all ongoing procurement and tender processes
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Ordered refunds of all fees paid by contractors
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Appointed new chairmen and members to both the civil and local government service commissions
While Ibas’s camp claims these moves are part of a constitutional cleanup, critics argue they are a flagrant abuse of interim powers and a slap in the face of due process.
Rivers on Edge
Civil society organizations, legal experts, and pro-democracy groups have all weighed in, warning that Ibas’s actions could deepen political instability in the oil-rich state.
“This is a constitutional crisis in motion,” said Courage Msirimovu, lead counsel for PILEX. “When a court summons is ignored, it’s not just a violation of law—it’s an insult to the entire justice system.”
The Bigger Picture
Vice Admiral Ibas was installed during an intense standoff between warring factions within the state’s political structure. But his recent actions have shifted the narrative—from a neutral mediator to what some now label “a rogue overlord.”
With the court case still pending and political tensions escalating, all eyes are on the judiciary—and the streets of Rivers may not remain calm for long.
