From Tony John, Port Harcourt
Rivers State Sole Administrator, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (retd), has announced the appointment of administrator’s in the 23 Local Government Areas of the state.
The appointment was made public yesterday, less than 24 hours after a Federal High Court in Port Harcourt gave a restraining order to the appointment of council sole administrators.
The appointments were contained in a statement signed by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Prof. Ibibia Worika.
Vice Admiral Ibas also approved the reconstitution of some boards of agencies, commissions and parastatals, earlier suspended.
Similarly, the following have also been appointed as Chairman and members of the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) – Dr Micheal Ekpai Odey (chairman), Mr Lezaasi Lenee Torbira (member), Prof Author Nwafor, Professor Godfrey Woke Mbgudiogha (member), Professor (Dame) Joyce Akaninwor (member), Dr. (Mrs.) Olive A. Bruce (member), Professor Chidi Halliday (member).
An order restraining the sole administrator from appointing council bosses was issued on April 8, 2025, by Justice Adamu Turaki Muhammed in Suit No. FHC/PH/CS/46/2025 in the case filed by PILEX Centre for Civic Education Initiative led by Courage Nsirimovu against the Sole Administrator (Vice Admiral Ibas).
The court stated that the motion ex parte was filed on March 28, 2025, praying the court for many reliefs firstly, an order of interim injunction restraining the respondent or his agents from appointing the sole administrator or whatever name called for the 23 LGAs. They also prayed for any other order deemed necessary in the circumstance.
The justice said he found enough reason to grant the prayers and fixed April 14, 2025, for hearing.
The local government administrators are Mr. Okroiyobi Animiete (Abua/Odual), Mr Goodluck M. Ihenacho (Ahoada East), Mr. Promise Jacob (Ahoada West), Dr Tamunotonye Peters (Akuku Toru), Surveyor Atajit Francis (Andoni), Barrister Ibiapuve Charles (Asari Toru), Mr. Kingsley N. Banigo (Bonny), Dr Sokari Ibifuro Francis (Degema), Dr. Gloria Obo Dibiah (Eleme),
Franklin P. Ajinwon (Emohua), Dr. Onyemachi S. Nwankwor (Etche), Prof. Gospel G. Kpee (Gokana), Mr Isaiah Christian Nobuawu (Ikwerre), Dr. Barinedum Nwibere (Khana), Dr Clifford Ndu Walter (Obio/Akpor), Dr Chukwuma Aje (Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni), Eliel Owubokiri (Ogu/Bolo), Mr. Thompson Isodiki (Okrika), Manager Ikechi Wala (Omuma)
Mr Fred Apiafi (Opobo/Nkoro), Eletuuo Ihianacho (Oyigbo) Dr Sam Kalagbor (Port Harcourt) and Mr Nuka O. S. Gbipah (Tai).