Rivers State Sole Administrator, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (retd.), has authorized the appointment of administrators for the 23 Local Government Areas across the state.
This decision was made despite a Federal High Court in Port Harcourt reportedly restraining him from appointing administrators to oversee local government councils less than 24 hours earlier.
The Federal High Court order, issued by Justice Adam Muhammed on Tuesday, was in connection with case number FHC/PH/CS/46/2025, filed by PILEX Centre for Civic Education Initiative, led by Courage Msirimovu, against the Sole Administrator in his official capacity.
In addition to the appointments, Ibas has also approved the reconstitution of certain boards for agencies, commissions, and parastatals that were previously suspended.
The announcement was detailed in a Special Government Announcement on Wednesday morning, signed by the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Ibibia Worika. While the statement did not disclose the names of the appointees, it specified that the appointments take immediate effect.
The statement reads: “His Excellency The Administrator of Rivers State, Vice Admiral (Rtd) Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas CFR, has approved the appointments of administrators for the 23 Local Government Areas of Rivers State. He has also approved the reconstitution of some boards of agencies, commissions, and parastatals, earlier suspended.
All appointments take effect from Monday, the 7th of April 2025.”
It is important to note that last week, the Sole Administrator had suspended all heads of Ministries, Departments, and Agencies in the state with immediate effect.