The Sole Administrator of Rivers State, Ibokete Ibas has appointed administrators for the 23 local government councils in Rivers State, in contravention of an order by the Federal High Court, Port Harcourt.
The Federal High Court had restrained the sole administrator from appointing coordinators to oversee the 23 council areas in the state.
Justice Adamu Mohammed issued the restraining order on Tuesday, following an ex parte application filed by Pilex Centre for Civic Education Initiative, a civil society organisation, led by Courage Nsirimovu.
The sole administrator is the only respondent in the suit.
Nsirimovu deposed to a 14-paragraph affidavit to support his application.
The applicant prayed the court for an order of interim injunction restraining the respondent, his agents, from appointing sole administrators for the 23 local governments in Rivers state.
Counsel to the applicant, A. O. Imiete, moved the motion for the ex parte application.
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The judge, after listening to the motion, granted the application and ruled that the respondent should appear before the court to show cause why the application should not be granted.
The case was adjourned to April 14 for hearing.
However, a statement signed by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Prof. Ibiba Worika, announced the appointment of administrators for the 23 local governments.
The statement also announced the appointment of a new chairman and members of the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission, (RSIEC).
The new RSIEC Chairman is Dr. Michael Odey, with six other members.
The statement said all appointments take effect from April 7, 2025