Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (retd.), currently serving as the Sole Administrator of Rivers State, has authorized the appointment of interim administrators for all 23 local government councils across the state.
This action follows closely on the heels of a reported Federal High Court order issued in Port Harcourt, which barred the state administrator from making such appointments.
The ruling was delivered on Tuesday by Justice Adam Muhammed in case number FHC/PH/CS/46/2025, filed by PILEX Centre for Civic Education Initiative, led by Courage Msirimovu.
Despite the legal challenge, Ibas proceeded not only with appointing council administrators but also reinstated several boards of state-run agencies, commissions, and parastatals that had earlier been suspended.
The announcement was made public through a Special Government Announcement issued on Wednesday morning by Professor Ibibia Worika, Secretary to the State Government.
Although the list of appointees was not included in the release, the statement confirmed that the appointments are effective immediately, starting Monday, April 7, 2025.
The statement read: “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 reconstituted certain boards of agencies, commissions, and parastatals previously put on hold. These appointments are to take effect from Monday, the 7th of April, 2025.”
Just last week, Ibas suspended all heads of Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) in the state, while also terminating all ongoing procurement and tender activities initiated by these departments.
He cited the recent Supreme Court ruling and the absence of an appropriation law during the affected period as justification for the move.
In an earlier statement, also released through the SSG’s office, the sole administrator directed all MDAs involved in such transactions to immediately refund any tender fees collected from contractors.