The Federal High Court in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, has issued an interim order restraining the Sole Administrator, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas (rtd.) from appointing Sole Administrators to govern the 23 local government areas of the state.
Justice Adamu Turaki Muhammed granted the order following an ex parte motion filed by PILEX Centre for Civic Education Initiative, led by Courage Msirimovu. The organization challenged the decision to install Sole Administrators for a six-month period in the Local Government Councils.
Justice Turaki stated that he found sufficient grounds to grant the prayers sought in the motion, which was filed on March 28, 2025. The motion specifically requested an interim injunction to prevent the respondent, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas (rtd.), or his agents, from appointing Sole Administrators, or individuals bearing any similar title, to manage the 23 LGAs. The applicants also sought any other orders deemed necessary by the court. The court has scheduled a hearing for April 14, 2025.
The legal challenge arose after the tenure of the last elected local council chairmen was terminated following a Supreme Court judgment on February 28th, which declared their election unlawful. Subsequently, the suspended Governor Fubara directed the former chairmen to hand over administration to the Heads of Local Government Administration (HLGAs), who have been overseeing the 23 local government councils since then.
