The Federal High Court in Abuja has been asked to remove Vice Admiral Ibokette Ibas (Rtd.) as the Sole Administrator of Rivers State, following a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of his appointment.
The suit, filed by Abuja-based lawyer Johnmary Jideobi, names President Bola Tinubu as the 1st defendant, while the Attorney-General of the Federation, Vice Admiral Ibas, and the Attorneys-General of all 36 states are listed as the 2nd to 39th defendants. The case, registered as FHC/ABJ/CS/572/2025, was filed on Tuesday. The plaintiff argues that the appointment of a Sole Administrator in Rivers State is unconstitutional, seeking a declaration that all actions and decisions made by Ibas in this role are null and void. He is also requesting a perpetual injunction preventing the President from appointing a Sole Administrator in any Nigerian state.
The lawsuit raises the question of whether, under Sections 1, 5(2), 180, 188, 189, 305, and 306 of the 1999 Constitution, the President has the legal authority to remove, suspend, or interfere with the tenure of a duly elected Governor and Deputy Governor and replace them with a Sole Administrator.
According to the plaintiff, the only legal circumstances under which a Governor’s tenure can be interrupted are those explicitly outlined in the Constitution, such as impeachment, resignation, or health incapacity—not by a presidential directive. He further contends that the March 18, 2025, suspension of the Rivers State Governor and Deputy Governor is unconstitutional, lacking any legal basis, and should therefore be overturned.
The case is expected to spark intense legal debate regarding the separation of powers, the autonomy of state governments, and the limits of presidential authority in Nigeria’s federal system.
Source : https://pointblanknews.com/
