Rivers State Sole Administrator, Vice Adm. Ibok-Ete Ibas (rtd).
By Dianabasi Effiong
Chairmen of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Rivers State under the umbrella of ‘PDP Ward Chairmen Forum Rivers State’ have written the state’s Sole Administrator, Vice Adm. Ibok-Ete Ibas (rtd), urging him to ‘immediately halt unconstitutional appointments’ in the state.
In the letter dated 15th April 2025 and addressed to the Sole Administrator, the Chairmen expressed their “unequivocal condemnation” of recent actions of the Sole Administrator, which they viewed as “unlawful, unconstitutional, and deeply troubling.”
They stated, “It has come to our notice that you have proceeded to make and endorse a series of appointments into local governments across the state without lawful authority and in flagrant violation of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“These actions are not only null and void but constitute an affront to democracy, the rule of law, and the will of the people of Rivers State.”
They also reminded the Sole Administrator that the Constitution under Section 7(1) is explicit that “The system of local government by democratically elected local government councils is under this Constitution guaranteed.”
They added that the Supreme Court of Nigeria had reaffirmed this position in the landmark case between the Attorney-General of Abia State v. Attorney-General of the Federation (SC/CV/343/2023), where the apex court emphatically held that: “The practice of appointing unelected persons to administer the affairs of local governments is a breach of the Constitution and must not be tolerated in a constitutional democracy.”
More specifically, “Any law or action which permits the dissolution of democratically elected local government councils and their replacement with caretaker committees is null, void, and of no effect whatsoever.”
The letter, which was signed by Comrade Collins Wobo Chukwu, Coordinator of the forum also called the attention of the Sole Administrator that recently, Justice Akomaye Agim of the Supreme Court, in a firm and unambiguous pronouncement, ruled against the continued use of caretaker committees or administrators to manage local government areas in Nigeria.
According to him, such practices amount to the erosion of democratic structures at the grassroots and are a blatant violation of the Constitution.
“Your actions, the letter went on, “therefore, constitute a direct violation of these binding judgments and are tantamount to contempt of court and a usurpation of democratic authority”.
“Additionally, your continued disobedience to the laws duly enacted by the Rivers State House of Assembly under the leadership of Rt. Hon. Martins Amaewhule — who has been affirmed by the Supreme Court as the authentic Speaker of the Assembly — is a grave affront to constitutional governance.
“Your refusal to implement these laws not only undermines the authority of a legitimately constituted legislative body but also constitutes a dangerous defiance of the rule of law and judicial pronouncements”, the letter stated.
The chairmen also stated that the people of Rivers State and the PDP as a party rejected the illegalities and demanded “Immediate cessation of all appointments or administrative actions made under your authority as Sole Administrator.
He also demanded “Public withdrawal and disavowal of all unconstitutional directives issued thus far and “Full compliance with the Supreme Court ruling, and alignment of all future conduct with the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”
“This letter serves as a formal protest and warning. Should these unconstitutional actions continue, we will have no choice but to pursue all available legal and political remedies to defend the democratic rights of the people.
“History will remember where each of us stood in moments like this. We urge you to stand on the side of the law,” the letter stated.
