TheNigeriaLawyer editorial will refer to Sole Administrator Ibok-Ete Ibas as ‘Unconstitutional’ until the Tinubu administration reverses its unconstitutional assault on Nigeria’s democracy by suspending elected officials, including the Governor, Deputy Governor, and members of the Rivers State House of Assembly.

The Unconstitutional Sole Administrator of Rivers State, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (rtd), has issued a directive to the Heads of Local Government Areas (HLGAs) of the 23 councils in the state, instructing them to submit detailed reports on their councils’ activities over the past two years.

The order, issued with urgency, has unsettled many of the HLGAs, with concerns over its perceived political undertones and legal implications.

This directive comes on the heels of the Supreme Court’s ruling that invalidated the 2024 local government elections in the state, resulting in the suspension of Governor Siminalayi Fubara. Following the court ruling, Fubara had instructed the HLGAs to take over the administration of the councils. However, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas, in his capacity as Sole Administrator, has now directed the submission of detailed reports from the HLGAs, creating uncertainty over the current governance structure.

The letter, signed by Dame Dr. Itong Awani, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Local Government Affairs, was sent to the HLGAs and requested that they submit reports on staffing, revenue generation, and projects completed or ongoing in the councils over the past two years. The reports are to be submitted by Wednesday, March 26, 2025.

The letter specified that the HLGAs should include the following information:

  • Introduction and Preamble
  • Functions of the Council
  • Number of staff on the nominal roll, broken down by cadre
  • Sources of revenue generation in the local government area
  • Activities of the council, including ongoing and completed projects
  • Achievements of the council over the past two years
  • Challenges faced by the councils, along with recommendations for addressing those issues

The HLGAs were also urged to treat this matter with urgency and to ensure that all reports are submitted within the timeline given.

The timing and the urgency of the directive have raised questions about the political motivations behind the Sole Administrator’s actions, with critics arguing that the directive could be seen as an unconstitutional move. There are growing concerns about the legal validity of the Sole Administrator’s position and whether such a directive is within the bounds of the law, considering the controversial suspension of the state governor.

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