Rivers Sole Administrator, Ibok-Ete Ibas Appoints LG Administrators, Reconstitutes Boards

Despite a court order telling him not to, the Sole Administrator of Rivers State, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (retd.), has gone ahead and appointed administrators for all 23 local government areas in the state.

This move came less than 24 hours after a Federal High Court in Port Harcourt, through Justice Adam Muhammed, ruled that he should not make such appointments.

The case was brought against him by the PILEX Centre for Civic Education Initiative, led by Courage Msirimovu.

In addition to these local government appointments, Ibas also reinstated several boards of state agencies, commissions, and parastatals that had earlier been suspended.

The appointments were announced on Wednesday morning in a special statement issued by the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Ibibia Worika.

According to the announcement, all the appointments officially took effect on Monday, April 7, 2025.

Here are the newly appointed local government administrators:

1. Okroiyobi Animiete – Abua/Odual
2. Goodluck M. Ihenacho – Ahoada East
3. Promise Jacob – Ahoada West
4. Dr. Tamunotonye Peters – Akuku Toru
5. Surveyor Atajit Francis – Andoni
6. Barr. Ibiapuve Charles – Asari Toru
7. Kingsley N. Banigo – Bonny
8. Dr. Sokari Ibifuro Francis – Degema
9. Dr. Gloria Obo Dibiah – Eleme
10. Barr. Franklin P. Ajinwon – Emohua
11. Dr. Onyemachi S. Nwankwor – Etche
12. Prof. Gospel G. Kpee – Gokana
13. Isaiah Christian Nobuawu – Ikwerre
14. Dr. Barinedum Nwibere – Khana
15. Dr. Clifford Ndu Walter – Obio Akpor
16. Dr. Chukwuma Aje – Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni
17. Eliel Owubokiri – Ogu/Bolo
18. Thompson Isodiki – Okrika
19. Manager Ikechi Wala – Omuma
20. Fred Apiafi – Opobo/Nkoro
21. Eletuuo Ihianacho – Oyigbo
22. Dr. Sam Kalagbor – Port Harcourt
23. Nuka O. S. Gbipah – Tai

Also appointed were new members of the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission:

• Dr. Micheal Ekpai Odey – Chairman
• Mr. Lezaasi Lenee Torbira – Member
• Prof. Author Nwafor – Member
• Prof. Godfrey Woke Mbgudiogha – Member
• Prof. Joyce Akaninwor – Member
• Dr. Olive A. Bruce – Member
• Prof. Chidi Halliday – Member

These appointments follow a Supreme Court decision that nullified the local government elections held in the state on October 5, 2024.