A coalition of civil society organisations, CSOs, in Rivers State has submitted a formal petition to the House of Representatives Ad-Hoc Committee overseeing the political crisis in the state.
The petition, signed by 17 CSOs, accused Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas, Rtd, the state’s Sole Administrator, of gross financial misconduct, alleging he is operating under the directives of Nyesom Wike, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory.
The petition which is dated April 16, 2025, and addressed to the chairman of the committee, claimed that Ibas’s actions have worsened the ongoing political crisis and urged the committee to urgently restore democratic governance in Rivers.
The CSOs expressed grave concern over what they describe as “severe, provocative and brazen acts of lawlessness and impunity”; committed by Ibas, arguing that his conduct contradicts the constitutional principles underpinning the emergency rule declared by President Bola Tinubu on March 18, 2025.
“We wish to humbly bring to your attention the severe, provocative and brazen acts of lawlessness and impunity which are being executed on a daily basis by the Administrator of Rivers State, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (Rtd.). These actions have been worsening and aggravating the political crises in Rivers State,”; the petition reads.
“It is rather regrettable that while your Committee is yet to give any approval of significant measure to the State Administrator, the latter has resorted to taking directives and instructions from Chief Ezenwo Nyesom Wike. Under the instructions of Chief Wike, he has dismantled the entire structures of democratic governance in Rivers State.”;
The CSOs further alleged that over N100 billion in state funds has been spent recklessly with no tangible development to show for it.
“We are further piqued by the reckless, irresponsible and uncontrollable expenditure of funds of the Rivers State Government by the State Administrator without compliance with due and laid down processes,”; they assert.
“We understand that the State Administrator has already expended over One Hundred Billion Naira with nothing on ground to show or justify this humongous expenditure.”;
They also faulted Ibas for failing to engage political actors or stakeholders to ease tensions or broker peace.
“It is a matter of great worry and regret that since his appointment, the State Administrator has not made any genuine attempt and effort to consult the warring gladiators in the Rivers State crises in order to secure peace and reconciliation between them,”; the petition noted.
“The State Administrator has also not made any move to interface with the generality of Rivers State stakeholders so as to forge alliances for the reconciliation of the warring parties and the resolution of the crises.”;
The petitioners also accused Ibas of openly favouring Wike’s camp in government appointments and administrative actions.
“What the State Administrator has rather done with shameless impunity is to take side with the Nyesom Wike faction and pilot the affairs of the State as their ally and nominee who is simply playing out his script prepared by them. This, as you know, is clearly unacceptable to the generality of Rivers people,”; the document stated.
The coalition urged the House Committee to take urgent steps to ensure accountability and democratic stability.
“We are indeed afraid that if the State Administrator is not immediately checked, he would waste and fritter away all the funds of our state government on recklessness and designed political heist,”; they warned.
In their plea, the CSOs asked the committee to overturn suspensions imposed on political appointees and reinstate all statutory institutions and positions dissolved or altered by the Administrator.
