Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (retd), the Sole Administrator of Rivers State, has suspended all political officeholders in the state.
A statement from his Chief of Staff on Tuesday night announced the decision, citing the powers granted to Ibas by President Bola Tinubu. The suspension affects the Secretary to the State Government, Chief of Staff, commissioners, board members, special advisers, special assistants, and other senior officials. The directive, effective from March 26, 2025, requires affected officials to hand over to permanent secretaries or, where unavailable, the most senior directors in their respective ministries or agencies.
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Ibas was appointed as the state’s sole administrator on March 18, 2025, following President Tinubu’s declaration of emergency rule in Rivers State.
Meanwhile, Bayelsa State Governor Douye Diri has urged President Tinubu to reconsider the emergency declaration in Rivers State, advocating for a reconciliation committee to address the crisis. Speaking at an emergency congress of the Ijaw National Congress (INC) in Yenagoa, Diri emphasized that the situation could be resolved through dialogue and reiterated that the Ijaw ethnic group was not in conflict with the president or the country.
Similarly, the National Democratic Coalition (NADECO) USA has called on President Tinubu to reverse the emergency rule and urged Ibas to step down as administrator.
Additionally, Ibas has directed the Heads of Local Government Areas in Rivers State to submit reports detailing their councils’ activities over the past two years.
Amid the crisis, Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State received former chairmen of the state’s 23 local government councils at his private residence in Port Harcourt.
