Obinna Nwaoku, Port Harcourt

Rivers State has been embroiled in a heated controversy following the appointment of local government administrators by Sole Administrator, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas (Rtd).

Dr. Danagogo Wenike-Briggs, a former gubernatorial candidate of the Young People’s Party (YPP) in the 2023 general election, has faulted the appointment, describing it as unconstitutional and a violation of the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria (as amended).

Wenike-Briggs said the constitution only recognizes democratically elected chairmen for local councils, not administrators.

He expressed concern that Ibas’ actions undermine the democratic process and the rule of law.

The appointment of administrators for the 23 local councils was announced on April 8, 2025, in a statement issued by the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Ibibia Worika.

Wenike-Briggs criticised Ibas’ plans to prepare a fresh budget for the state, arguing that this is the prerogative of a democratically elected state chief executive and assembly. He emphasized that Ibas’ actions are a clear overstep of his authority as sole administrator.

He said: “Let it be clearly stated, the administrator has no constitutional authority to act as a governor in Rivers State and certainly no mandate to appoint local government administrators. His actions are illegitimate, unconstitutional, and represents a direct threat to democratic governance in Nigeria.

“The 1999 constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) is unambiguous about how the local government areas are to be governed. In section 7, subsection 1, this section guarantees democratic elections at the local government level. Nowhere in the constitution does it guarantee or grant a state administrator, let alone a military appointee the powers to appoint LGA caretakers or administrators in place of elected officials.”

He called on well-meaning Rivers people to intervene and stop the sole administrator from acting arbitrarily in the state saying; “The admiral must be stopped. His appointment, actions, and intentions are unconstitutional. We stand by the constitution of Nigeria because we are patriotic citizens.

“The rule of law must prevail and democracy must not be traded for political puppetry. Enough is enough. Rivers State is not a military barrack. It is a constitutional democracy and we, the people must defend it by all costs.”

While pledging his loyalty to the suspended governor of the state, Siminalayi Fubara, Wenike-Briggs called on the people of the state to resist the appointments of sole administrators for the 23 councils of the state and to insist on democratically elected leaders.

“We must hold firmly to our constitutional rights and say no to illegality. No to appointed LGA heads. And yes to democracy. Nigeria cannot afford to continue in this direction. We must reclaim our state, our councils, and our future,” he said.