Civil society and regional groups have condemned the appointment of local government administrators in Rivers State by the Sole Administrator, Vice Admiral Ibok-Etteh Ibas, rtd, calling the action illegal and a direct violation of the Supreme Court’s ruling on local government autonomy.
The Civil Liberties Organization, CLO, the Ijaw Youth Council, IYC, and the Pan Niger Delta Elders Forum, PANDEF, expressed outrage over the development, describing it as a threat to democracy and a ploy to consolidate power ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Speaking with Vanguard, CLO South-South Chairman, Karl Chinedu, said the appointment of unelected officials to manage the 23 local government areas amounts to a “violation of the rule of law.”;
“This appointment is illegal and raises serious constitutional issues. It is a sad development for democracy as public funds are now being controlled by individuals who were never elected by the people.”;
The Ijaw Youth Council also expressed deep concerns. Its President, Dr Alaye Theophilus, accused Ibas of acting on instructions from Abuja.
“This is a power grab designed to benefit those who orchestrated the emergency rule in Rivers State,”; Theophilus said.
He further alleged that the move was part of a larger political agenda by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and former Governor Nyesom Wike to dominate Rivers politics ahead of 2027.
“There is no legal provision that allows a sole administrator to make political appointments,
“If this continues, we may be forced to consider drastic measures, including the declaration of an Ijaw Republic,”; he warned.
Echoing these sentiments, PANDEF chieftain, Chief Anabs Sara-Igbe, described the appointments as “disrespectful of the rule of law.”; He said.
“The position of the Sole Administrator is legally unfounded, and any decisions made under this administration lack legitimacy.
“The man is in a hurry to implement an agenda that serves those who appointed him.”;
