By: Daure David
The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has been urged to remove the recently appointed Sole Administrator of Rivers State, Vice Admiral Ibokette Ibas (rtd), from office. This call was made in a suit filed by a prominent Abuja-based legal practitioner, Mr. Johnmary Jideobi, who is seeking to nullify all actions taken by Ibas in the capacity of Sole Administrator.
The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/572/2025, lists President Bola Tinubu as the 1st defendant, with Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), Vice Admiral Ibas, and the Attorneys-General of all 36 states of Nigeria named as the other defendants. The case, lodged before the court on Tuesday, questions the constitutionality of the President’s authority to suspend elected governors and appoint sole administrators in their place.
Jideobi’s suit requests the court to declare the actions of Vice Admiral Ibas as unconstitutional, arguing that his appointment as the Sole Administrator of Rivers State violates the provisions of the Nigerian Constitution. Specifically, the plaintiff asserts that the constitution does not grant the President the power to suspend duly elected state governors and replace them with appointed officials.
The suit further asks the court to issue an injunction preventing President Tinubu from appointing any Sole Administrator in the future, stating that such actions undermine the democratic process and violate the constitutional rights of elected state officials.
In his application, Jideobi referenced key sections of the 1999 Constitution, including Sections 1, 5(2), 180, 188, 189, 305, and 306, which collectively emphasize the protection of the tenure of elected governors and deputy governors. The plaintiff contends that the only legal grounds for removing or suspending a governor are outlined in these constitutional provisions and do not extend to the President’s unilateral appointment of a Sole Administrator.
Further, the suit seeks the following declarations:
That the suspension of the Governor and Deputy Governor of Rivers State by President Tinubu on March 18, 2025, is unconstitutional and void.
That the appointment of Vice Admiral Ibas as Sole Administrator is similarly unconstitutional and should be set aside.
An order for Vice Admiral Ibas to vacate the Rivers State Government House immediately.
Jideobi, in a 32-paragraph affidavit in support of the suit, expressed concern over the implications of such presidential actions, warning that without judicial intervention, it could set a dangerous precedent, allowing the executive to arbitrarily remove elected officials across the country.
“I have never seen the term ‘Sole Administrator’ used in the amended 1999 Constitution,” Jideobi said in the affidavit. “Such a move undermines the principle of federalism and the separation of powers that are foundational to our democracy.”
He emphasized that the suit was filed in the public interest, to preserve the integrity of the Constitution and protect the democratic process from what he described as actions that could lead to anarchy.
No date has yet been set for the hearing of the case. The outcome of the suit could have significant implications for the future of governance in Nigeria, particularly regarding the powers of the President in relation to elected state officials.
