By Els William
The Sole Administrator imposed on Rivers State by President Bola Tinubu, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (retd.), has suspended all political officeholders in the state with immediate effect.
According to a statement issued on Wednesday by the Chief of Staff to the Sole Administrator, “All affected officials must hand over their responsibilities to the highest-ranking civil servants in their respective ministries, departments, and agencies. Where a permanent secretary is unavailable, the most senior director or head of administration is to assume leadership.”
The sweeping directive affects “the Secretary to the State Government, the Chief of Staff, all commissioners, and chairmen and members of boards, agencies, commissions, institutions, and parastatals.” Also included are “special advisers, special assistants, and senior special assistants.”
This mass suspension follows an earlier directive instructing all 23 local government councils in Rivers State to submit comprehensive reports detailing their activities, staffing, and sources of revenue. That directive, contained in a leaked memo from the Permanent Secretary of the Rivers State Ministry of Local Government Affairs, Dame Dr. Itong Awani, required the reports to be submitted by March 26, 2025.
The memo, titled “Submission of Report of the Activities of Your Councils,” mandated all Heads of Local Government Administration (HLGAs) to “provide a breakdown of their functions, number of staff on payroll, revenue sources, ongoing and completed projects in the past two years, as well as their achievements, challenges, and recommendations.”
Political analysts view these moves as part of a broader federal strategy to consolidate control over Rivers State’s political and financial structures. The state has been embroiled in a prolonged power struggle between Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his former ally, Nyesom Wike, now Minister of the Federal Capital Territory. The conflict, which began over political appointments and resource control, escalated when lawmakers loyal to Wike attempted to remove Fubara from office.
Despite a peace deal brokered by President Tinubu in late 2023, tensions persisted. The situation reached a breaking point when the federal government declared a state of emergency in Rivers State, citing security concerns. This unprecedented decision stripped Governor Fubara of executive powers and resulted in the appointment of Vice Admiral Ibas as the Sole Administrator.
The latest purge of political appointees signals an intensified federal takeover of Rivers State, a region rich in oil and economic resources. While some see it as a necessary step to restore order, others argue that it undermines democratic governance and state autonomy. The coming weeks will determine whether these measures bring stability or further deepen the crisis in Rivers politics.