The Niger Delta Democratic Alliance (NDDA) has passed a vote of no confidence on Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (retd.), the sole administrator of Rivers State, accusing him of deepening the state’s political crisis and failing to provide credible leadership.

In a statement released on Friday and signed by the group’s president, Chief Timi Tamuno Jack, the NDDA condemned Ibas for sidelining key political stakeholders and exacerbating tensions, rather than fostering dialogue and reconciliation.
“Rather than ease tensions or encourage engagement, the sole administrator has instead isolated stakeholders and inflamed political hostilities across Rivers,” the statement read.

The group criticised Ibas’ unwillingness to collaborate with elected representatives and accused him of shunning invitations from the state legislature to provide updates on the state’s affairs. It further alleged that he had deliberately excluded local leaders, traditional institutions, and civil society groups from peacebuilding efforts.

“Ibas has become the problem. Instead of helping to provide any solution, he has turned the state into a full conflict zone like the North West and North East regions,” the group warned. “If this continues, we fear Rivers could descend into the kind of bloodshed we are witnessing in other volatile regions.”

The NDDA also expressed dismay over Ibas’ failure to hold any public engagements since his appointment, noting that there had been no townhall meetings, consultations with youth leaders or engagement with local government officials.
“No serious leader would ignore lawmakers in a time of crisis,” the group said. “We expected Admiral Ibas to appear before the legislature to explain his roadmap for peace and reconciliation. Instead, he chose silence and arrogance. That posture tells us everything we need to know.”

The group likened the situation in Rivers to a “ticking time bomb”, warning that the lack of inclusive governance under Ibas posed a direct threat to peace and stability in the state.

“We are sitting on a keg of gunpowder. The people are losing faith and yet the man in charge is doing absolutely nothing to unite them. His presence in that seat has become a threat to the state’s stability,” Jack said.

The NDDA has now called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to remove Ibas from office, describing his appointment as “a costly miscalculation” that has worsened, rather than resolved, political tensions in the state.

“We are calling on Mr President to do the needful. Ibas must go. He does not have the temperament, the political wisdom, or the trust of stakeholders needed to lead Rivers State through this delicate moment. The sooner he is replaced, the better for all of us,” Jack declared.

“This is not a military cantonment. This is a democratic state with a history of resilience and resistance. If Admiral Ibas continues on this path, he will face not just a vote of no confidence, but the full weight of public rejection,” he added.
The group concluded by urging the federal government to take urgent steps to restore participatory governance in Rivers State, warning that the current trajectory could lead to wider unrest if left unchecked.