The recent appointment of local government area (LGA) administrators in Rivers State by the state’s sole administrator, Vice Admiral (rtd.) Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas has sparked sharp reactions from civil society groups.
One such group, the Pilex Centre – The People’s Advocates, has raised legal and constitutional concerns regarding the move.
During a press briefing in Port Harcourt, the group’s coordinator, Courage Nsirimovu, disclosed that they have taken the matter to court to prevent what they describe as an unconstitutional takeover of local governance.
According to Nsirimovu, the court has already compelled the Sole Administrator to appear and justify why he should not be restrained from appointing LGA administrators. “Our suspicion heightened when a memo was sent to Heads of Departments requesting reports for all the LGAs.
“We argued that only democratically elected individuals are permitted to run local government areas, as enshrined in Section 7 of the 1999 Nigerian Constitution (as amended), and supported by recent Supreme Court rulings.”
He emphasized that the legal action is aimed at permanently barring the Sole Administrator from making such appointments, asserting that only an elected governor and state assembly have the authority to make such decisions. “Any contrary action constitutes contempt of court,” he added.
Also Read: Ibas Disregards Court Order, Approves Appointment Of Administrators For 23 LGAs In Rivers
Nsirimovu further explained that the current court order acts as an Order Nisi – a temporary measure pending the Sole Administrator’s response. Should he fail to present sufficient cause, the court may convert it into an Order Absolute, effectively banning the appointments.
In a broader appeal, Nsirimovu called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to reverse the declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State, warning that it risks escalating into a constitutional crisis.
“There is no war or emergency in Rivers State to justify this political declaration,” he said.
On a related note, the Pilex Centre also condemned the recent police crackdown on “Take It Back” protesters, accusing the Rivers State Police Command of brutality and defamation. Nsirimovu demanded that the Police PRO provide evidence of criminal records for protesters labeled as “thieves” and “miscreants.”
“The Channels Television correspondent who was assaulted has revealed the truth — the protesters were brutalized. If the Police PRO cannot provide proof, she must publicly apologize to innocent citizens or face legal action for defamation and rights violations.”
The situation in Rivers State continues to draw attention as civil society and legal actors push back against what they describe as unconstitutional actions by state authorities.
