Rivers Sole Administrator Defy Court Order, Appoint 23 LGA Administrators, Others
Sole Administrator of Rivers State, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas (rtd.), has appointed administrators to man the 23 Local Government Areas of the state in defiance of a valid court order.
The administrator also appointed chairmen and members of the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC), and state and local government service commissions.
The appointment, which takes immediate effect from Monday, April 7, 2025, was contained in a statement signed by the new Secretary to the state government, Prof. Ibibia Worika, on Wednesday.
This was as a Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt and presided over by Justice, Adamu Turaki Muhammed on Monday barred the state’s Sole Administrator from appointing Administrators to run the 23 local council areas in the state.
The statement titled reads in part, “Rivers State Government special announcement” reads in part, “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.
“Mr Okroiyobi Animiete Abua/Odual
Mr. Goodluck M. Ihenacho Ahoada East; Mr. Promise Jacob Ahoada West; Dr. Tamunotonye Peters. Akuku Toru; Surveyor Atajit Francis Andoni; Barrister Ibiapuve Charles Asari Toru; Mr. Kingsley N. Banigo Bonny; Dr. Sokari Ibifuro Francis Degema; Dr. Gloria Obo Dibiah Eleme; Barrister Franklin P. Ajinwon Emohua; Dr. Onyemachi S. Nwankwor Etche; Prof. Gospel G. Kpee Gokana; Mr Isaiah Christian Nobuawu Ikwerre; Dr Barinedum Nwibere Khana.
Others are: Dr Clifford Ndu Walter Obio Akpor; Dr Chukwuma Aje Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni; Eliel Owubokiri Ogu/Bolo; Mr Thompson Isodiki Okrika; Manager Ikechi Wala Omuma; Mr Fred Apiafi Opobo /Nkoro; Eletuuo Ihianacho Oyigbo; Dr Sam Kalagbor Port Harcourt
and Mr Nuka O. S. Gbipah Tai.”
Similarly, the Sole Administrator also appointed Dr. Micheal Ekpai Odey Chairman, as Chairman of the Rivers State Electoral Commission, while Mr. Lezaasi Lenee Torbira, Prof Author Nwafor, Professor Godfrey Woke Mbgudiogha, Professor (Dame) Joyce Akaninwor, Dr (Mrs) Olive A. Bruce, and Professor Chidi Halliday are all members.
Ibas also appointed, Dr Livinus Bariki to Man the state Civil Service Commission as Chairman, while Amb. Lot Peter Egopija, Mrs. Maeve Ere Bestman, Mrs. Joy Obiaju, and Mrs. Charity Lloyd Harry are designated to serve as members.
He also appointed Mr. Isreal N Amadi to serve as Chairman of the Local Government Service Commission, while Mr. Linus Nwandem, Lady Christabel Ego George Didia, Dr. Tonye Willie D Pepple, Barr Richard Ewoh, Rear Adm. Emmanuel Ofik (Rtd) and Dr. Sammy Apiafi will all serve as members.
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