Less than 24 hours after a Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt reportedly restrained him from appointing local government administrators, Rivers State Sole Administrator, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas (retd.), has approved the appointment of officials to oversee the state’s 23 Local Government Areas.
The announcement, which was made on Wednesday via a Special Government Announcement signed by the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Ibibia Worika, also included the reconstitution of boards of some suspended state agencies, commissions, and parastatals.
Although the names of the newly appointed LG administrators were not disclosed, the statement emphasized that the appointments take immediate effect from Monday, April 7, 2025.
“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,” the statement read.
“He has also approved the reconstitution of some boards of agencies, commissions, and parastatals, earlier suspended.”
This development comes amidst legal contention. On Tuesday, Justice Adam Muhammed of the Federal High Court issued an interim order barring the sole administrator from making such appointments.
The order followed a suit—FHC/PH/CS/46/2025—filed by the PILEX Centre for Civic Education Initiative, led by Courage Msirimovu.
Despite the court’s directive, Ibas appears to be pushing forward with sweeping administrative changes in the state.
Just last week, he suspended all heads of Ministries, Departments, and Agencies in Rivers State. In a separate move, the administrator cancelled all pending procurement and tender processes carried out by MDAs, citing the absence of an appropriation law and a recent Supreme Court ruling.
A previous statement from the SSG indicated that MDAs involved in such tenders were directed to refund any collected fees to contractors.
“These steps are necessary to ensure accountability and conformity with legal and financial procedures,” the statement noted.
