Seven (7) Reasons Why the Appointment of LGA Administrators in Rivers State Is Raising Political Dust in Nigeria

INTRO: The recent appointment of Local Government Area (LGA) administrators by the Sole Administrator of Rivers State, Vice Admiral (Rtd) Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas, has sparked legal uproar and intensified political tensions. Though framed as a governance necessity, the move has been widely criticized, contested in court, and viewed as a deepening of the already complex Rivers political crisis.

Below are the seven (7) key reasons why these appointments are generating such widespread controversy:

1. Contravention of a Court Order: Perhaps the most glaring issue is that a Federal High Court in Port Harcourt had already issued an injunction barring Ibas from making such nominations. The interim order, granted on March 28, 2025, explicitly restrained him and his agents from selecting any sole administrators pending a substantive hearing. Ibas engaged persons as LG administrators disregarding this order which has placed him on a collision course with the judiciary and civil society.

2. Exacerbation of Legal and Constitutional Crisis: The assignments of local level leaders represent yet another layer in the ongoing constitutional conflict over local government leadership in Rivers State. With competing rulings, overlapping authority, and neglect of due process, this move further erodes public confidence in legal and democratic governance. It also brings up questions about the limits of presidentially-declared states of emergency in the context of rule of law.

3. A Power Play in the Fubara-Wike Political Tug of War: This development cannot be separated from the fierce rivalry between Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his predecessor, Nyesom Wike. The LGA postings are seen by many as an attempt by federal-backed actors to reassert control over local political structures that are traditionally crucial for grassroots influence and electoral mobilization.

4. Contradiction of Supreme Court Backing for Wike Camp: In February 2025, the Supreme Court ruled in favour of the Wike-supported APC, which challenged the local government elections organized by Fubara’s government. By bypassing both the election results and court judgments, the Ibas-led government risks defying not just lower courts but the apex court—a move with potential long-term constitutional consequences.

5. Disruption of Grassroots Governance: The positioning of unelected LGA administrators in defiance of ongoing judicial proceedings and previously held elections disrupts the delivery of basic services at the communities. It creates uncertainty among civil servants, traditional rulers, and residents about legitimate authority, thereby hampering effective governance.

6. Perceived Overreach of Emergency Powers: Following the proclamation of emergency rule in Rivers State by President Tinubu, the former Chief of Naval Staff, Ibas was installed as Sole Administrator. However, using this emergency mandate to override court orders and install LGA heads is considered by critics as misuse of emergency authority meant for peacekeeping, not political engineering.

7. Heightening Political Tensions Ahead of 2027 Elections: With the nation going to the polls just come next two years, every political move is regarded from a partisan lens. The manipulation or control of local governments is a strategic tool for influence in specific and general elections. This eventuality is, therefore, interpreted as part of a larger struggle to dominate Rivers State’s political landscape before 2027.