Tension is mounting in Rivers State over an alleged plan by the newly appointed Sole Administrator, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas (rtd), to appoint administrators to head the 23 local government areas of the state.
The move has sparked concerns among political stakeholders and citizens, who fear it could undermine democratic principles and the recent Supreme Court ruling on local government autonomy.
Reports indicate that Bola Tinubu allegedly instructed Ibas to establish a leadership structure at the local government level.
While the administrator has pledged to restore peace in the state, sources claim he is on the verge of appointing local government caretakers an action seen as unconstitutional.
It was also gathered that the appointments may be skewed in favor of loyalists of a key political figure in the state, leading to fears of a potential political showdown from opposing factions.
A source privy to the development expressed concern that Ibas is disregarding the clear provisions of the Nigerian Constitution and the Supreme Court’s ruling, which affirms that local governments must be governed by elected officials, not appointed caretakers.
According to Vanguard, the source, who chose to remain anonymous, warned that implementing such appointments would amount to executive overreach and a blatant violation of democratic norms.
The source said: “Nigerians must remain vigilant against this unconstitutional manoeuvre, as it threatens the foundation of grassroots democracy.
“Any attempt to impose unelected administrators on LGAs must be met with firm resistance from law-abiding citizens, political stakeholders, and civil society groups.
“Will the rule of law prevail, or will impunity reign? The next 24 hours will be crucial in determining whether democracy holds firm or is trampled upon.”
