Ibas Appoints Administrators For 23 Rivers Lgs, Amid Legal, Political Tensions

The Sole Administrator of Rivers State, Vice Admiral Rtd Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas, has approved the appointment of administrators for the 23 Local Government Areas LGAs of the state, alongside the reconstitution of previously suspended boards of agencies, commissions, and parastatals.

The appointments take effect from Monday, April 7, 2025.

The approval was contained in a Special Government Announcement issued on Wednesday by the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Ibibia Worika.

This development comes amid mounting legal and political tensions in the state, with a Federal High Court in Port Harcourt having earlier barred Ibas from making such appointments.

Justice Adamu Turaki Mohammed issued an interim injunction in Suit No. FHC/PH/CS/46/2025, filed by PILEX Centre for Civic Education Initiative led by Courage Msirimovu. The order restrains the Sole Administrator and his agents from appointing sole administratorsunder any designationto oversee the LGAs. The court granted the motion ex parte filed on March 28, and has fixed April 14 for a substantive hearing.