In a ruling that could shift the balance of power in Rivers State, a Federal High Court in Port Harcourt on Tuesday barred the state’s Sole Administrator, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas (rtd.), from appointing Sole Administrators to oversee the 23 local government areas (LGAs).
Justice Adamu Turaki Muhammed issued the interim injunction in Suit No. FHC/PH/CS/46/2025, following an ex parte motion filed on March 28, 2025, by the Pilex Centre for Civic Education Initiative, led by civic advocate Courage Msirimovu.
The Centre’s legal action sought to forestall what it described as a politically motivated bid to consolidate control of the LGAs by installing loyalists of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
The Minister, a key figure in the ongoing power struggle with suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara, is allegedly perceived as a major beneficiary of the state of emergency imposed in Rivers State earlier this year.
Granting the interim reliefs, Justice Muhammed ruled that there was sufficient cause to restrain the Sole Administrator or his agents from unilaterally appointing officials, by any title, to run the councils.
The court adjourned the matter for hearing on April 14, 2025.
The development follows the Supreme Court’s February 28 judgment, which nullified the elections of the former council chairmen.
In the wake of the ruling, Governor Fubara, before his suspension, had directed the outgoing officials to hand over to the Heads of Local Government Administration (HLGAs), who continue to serve in a caretaker capacity.
However, fears mounted among political observers that the Sole Administrator, installed during the emergency, could sideline the HLGAs in favor of appointees aligned with the Wike faction, further inflaming tensions in the already volatile political landscape.