Legal Battle Brews Over Rivers State Sole Administrator Appointment

Abuja Court Asked to Nullify Appointment of Vice Admiral Ibok Ete Ibas as Rivers State Sole Administrator

Let me break this down for you. The Federal High Court in Abuja has been petitioned to declare the appointment of Vice Admiral Ibok Ete Ibas (retired) as the Sole Administrator of Rivers State unconstitutional. This move by President Bola Tinubu has sparked a legal challenge, and it’s a big deal. The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/572/2025, was filed by Johnmary Jideobi, a lawyer based in Abuja. He's taking on the President, Vice Admiral Ibas, and the Attorneys-General of all 36 states in the federation. This is a heavyweight legal battle.

Why is This Happening?

Here’s the backstory: Jideobi is arguing that Vice Admiral Ibas's actions as the Sole Administrator of Rivers State are completely unconstitutional. In fact, he’s asking the court to declare all decisions made by Ibas in this capacity as null and void. He claims there’s no legal basis for these actions, and they shouldn’t have any constitutional impact across Nigeria. Essentially, Jideobi is saying that President Tinubu overstepped his authority when he appointed Ibas, and this decision needs to be overturned.

According to Naija News, the suit states, “The actions of the third defendant, Vice Admiral Ibas, in his capacity as Sole Administrator of Rivers State, are unconstitutional and should be declared null and void.” This is a bold statement, and it sets the stage for a potentially groundbreaking legal case.

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What’s the Plaintiff Asking For?

Jideobi isn’t stopping there. He’s also asking the court to issue a permanent injunction to stop President Tinubu from messing with the tenure of the elected Governor and Deputy Governor of Rivers State—or any other state in Nigeria, for that matter. He’s requesting a restraining order to ensure the President, his agents, or anyone acting under his authority can’t suspend, remove, or replace governors or appoint sole administrators.

Furthermore, the suit seeks an order to permanently prevent the President from appointing any Sole Administrator to any state government office nationwide. This would mean that only duly elected officials could hold office in state governments, reinforcing the principles of democracy and the rule of law.

The Legal Basis for the Challenge

This legal move comes after President Tinubu decided to appoint Vice Admiral Ibas as the Sole Administrator of Rivers State following the suspension of Governor Siminalayi Fubara. Jideobi, through a team of lawyers led by Mr. Chimezie Enuka, is asking the court to consider a critical question: Does the President of Nigeria have the constitutional authority to remove, suspend, or interfere with the tenure of a duly elected Governor and Deputy Governor of any state? And can the President appoint a sole administrator in their place?

Jideobi argues that upon a thorough reading of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended), there’s no provision for the removal or interruption of a governor’s tenure except under specific circumstances outlined in Sections 180, 188, 189, and 306 of the Constitution. He’s asking the court to declare that President Tinubu lacks the constitutional authority to meddle with state governors or appoint sole administrators.

Key Declarations Requested

Jideobi is seeking several declarations from the court, including:

• A declaration that the suspension of the Governor and Deputy Governor of Rivers State by President Tinubu is unconstitutional, null, and void.
• A declaration that the appointment of Vice Admiral Ibas as the Sole Administrator of Rivers State is also unconstitutional, null, and void.
• An order setting aside the suspension of the Governor and Deputy Governor of Rivers State.
• An order setting aside the appointment of Vice Admiral Ibas as the Sole Administrator.
• An order directing Vice Admiral Ibas to vacate the Government House of Rivers State immediately.

Why Does This Matter?

In a 32-paragraph affidavit supporting the suit, Jideobi emphasizes that while President Tinubu has the constitutional power to declare a state of emergency under certain conditions, he doesn’t have the authority to suspend elected officials who aren’t his appointees. He points out that the term “Sole Administrator” doesn’t even appear in the amended 1999 Constitution of Nigeria.

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He stresses that Nigeria operates under a federal system with a separation of powers. Governors and deputy governors are elected by the people, not appointed by the President or his administration. Jideobi also highlights that this lawsuit is in the public interest, aiming to defend the rule of law and uphold the supremacy of the Constitution. He warns that if the court doesn’t intervene, the removal of elected governors could become a regular occurrence, leading to chaos and instability in the nation.

“It will be in the interest of justice for this Honourable Court to grant the prayers contained on the face of this Originating Summons,” Jideobi concludes in his affidavit.

What’s Next?

For now, no date has been set for the hearing of this case. But one thing is certain: this legal battle has the potential to reshape the political landscape in Nigeria. It’s a test of the balance of power between the federal government and the states, and it could set a precedent for future governance. Stay tuned, because this story is far from over.