Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas (retd.), the Sole Administrator of Rivers State, has approved the appointment of administrators for the 23 Local Government Areas in the state, defying a recent court order.
The announcement was made public on Wednesday via a statement issued by the Secretary to the State Government, Professor Ibibia Worika.
While the statement confirmed the appointments, it did not name the individuals selected to lead the local councils.
“His Excellency, the Administrator of Rivers State, Vice Admiral (Rtd.) Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas, CFR, has approved the appointment of administrators to serve in the 23 local government areas,” the statement read.
It also noted that he had reconstituted boards of some suspended government agencies, commissions, and parastatals.
All appointments are effective from Monday, April 7, 2025.
This move comes less than 24 hours after a Federal High Court in Port Harcourt issued an order barring Ibas from making such appointments.
The interim injunction was given by Justice Adam Muhammed in response to a suit (No. FHC/PH/CS/46/2025) filed by the PILEX Centre for Civic Education Initiative, led by Courage Msirimovu.
