PORT HARCOURT — The political tension gripping Rivers State took a dangerous new turn over the weekend, as the state's Sole Administrator, Vice Admiral (Rtd) Ibok-Ete Ibas, brazenly appointed administrators for the 23 Local Government Areas in clear defiance of an existing court order.
The appointments, which became effective on Sunday, April 7, 2025, have deepened the already combustible standoff between Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his political rival, former Governor and current FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike. Legal observers have decried the move as not only a violation of judicial process but also a clear affront to constitutional order.
The Federal High Court in Port Harcourt had issued an interim injunction barring Ibas from making any such appointments until the substantive suit—slated for hearing on April 14—was heard and determined. However, Ibas, acting in concert with Governor Fubara, pressed ahead with the appointments, drawing sharp criticism from legal experts, political stakeholders, and civil society groups alike.
This latest development underscores the intensifying battle for the soul of Rivers State, where the control of local government structures remains the most hotly contested prize. Governor Fubara, who has consistently challenged the authority of Wike’s political machinery since taking office, had earlier nullified the local government elections conducted under the former governor's influence. Instead, he installed caretaker committees, a move many interpreted as a strategic effort to dismantle Wike’s stronghold.
Notably, the Supreme Court had ruled in February in favor of the Wike-backed All Progressives Congress (APC), affirming the legality of the council elections conducted last year. However, Fubara ignored the judgment, plunging the state into further legal and political chaos.
Vice Admiral Ibas’ appointment of new LG administrators, critics say, has compounded the crisis. While state government insiders insist the appointments were necessary to prevent a power vacuum, opposition voices argue it is a calculated act of defiance designed to solidify Fubara’s control at the grassroots level.
“It is a flagrant disrespect of the rule of law,” said Barrister Ndubisi Okorie, a constitutional lawyer. “When court orders are openly disobeyed by those in power, the very foundation of our democracy is at risk.”
The federal government, which declared a state of emergency in Rivers State in March due to rising unrest and administrative paralysis, has yet to respond officially to the latest development. However, political watchers believe that Abuja may be forced to intervene again, especially if tensions escalate.
Across Port Harcourt and other LGAs, the appointments have sparked protests and counter-protests, with rival youth groups clashing in several areas. Security agencies have been placed on high alert amid fears of a breakdown in law and order.
The coming days promise to be critical, as all eyes turn to the April 14 court hearing that may yet determine the legality of the appointments—and the broader legitimacy of the Fubara administration’s local governance strategy.
Until then, Rivers remains a state teetering on the edge of constitutional collapse, with both political and legal institutions locked in a high-stakes battle for supremacy.