A fresh legal battle is unfolding as the Federal High Court in Abuja has been urged to remove Vice Admiral Ibokette Ibas (Rtd.) from his position as the Sole Administrator of Rivers State.
The lawsuit, filed by Abuja-based lawyer Johnmary Jideobi, argues that President Bola Tinubu’s appointment of a Sole Administrator is unconstitutional and violates Nigeria’s 1999 Constitution. The suit names Tinubu as the 1st defendant, alongside the Attorney General of the Federation, Ibas, and the Attorneys-General of all 36 states.
Key Legal Arguments
The plaintiff is asking the court to:
Declare Ibas’ appointment unconstitutional and void all decisions he has made in office.
Issue a perpetual injunction preventing the President from appointing Sole Administrators in any state.
Reinstate the elected Governor and Deputy Governor of Rivers State, arguing that only impeachment, resignation, or health-related incapacity—as outlined in the Constitution—can remove them from office.
“No Sole Administrator in the Constitution” – Plaintiff
Jideobi insists that the concept of a Sole Administrator does not exist in the Nigerian Constitution. He warns that allowing such appointments could lead to a dangerous precedent, undermining democracy and the rule of law.
“As a lawyer, I have never seen the term ‘Sole Administrator’ in the 1999 Constitution,” he stated in court documents. “This move by the President could set the stage for anarchy.”
