Eze Slams Ibas’ LG Appointments as Constitutional Rape, Accuses Tinubu, Wike of Undermining Democracy in Rivers
PORT HARCOURT/Nigeria: A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and former National Publicity Secretary of the defunct New Peoples Democratic Party (nPDP), Chief Eze Chukwuemeka Eze, has described the appointment of Local Government Administrators in Rivers State by Vice Admiral Ibok Ette Ibas (rtd) as a constitutional aberration and a dangerous affront to Nigeria’s democracy.
In a strongly worded statement issued on Tuesday, Eze said the action of the Rivers State Sole Administrator, Ibas, is a “barefaced slap” on the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and a calculated attempt to foist illegality on the people of the state. He described the move as one that smacks of brazen impunity and disregard for court orders.
Chief Eze maintained that the entire appointment of Ibas, and his subsequent actions, lack legitimacy and defy democratic norms, accusing President Bola Tinubu of engineering the “state capture” in Rivers for political ally and Minister of the FCT, Nyesom Wike.
“The command-and-obey style of Ibas’ administration, which mirrors military dictatorship, has earned him the infamy of a stooge executing a devious script. His entire appointment is a product of undemocratic acts of the highest order,” Eze declared.
He faulted the recent appointment of LG administrators despite a subsisting court order restraining such action. According to Eze, Justice Turaki Mohammed of the Federal High Court in Port Harcourt had on April 7, 2025, in Suit No: FHC/PHC/CS/46/2025, directed Ibas to appear and show cause why he should not be barred from making the controversial appointments.
“Shockingly, after being served the court process on April 8, Ibas went ahead to announce the appointments with effect from Monday, in a desperate attempt to render the court order useless,” Eze lamented.
He stated that Ibas and his “demi-gods” have shown open disdain for the judiciary, violating orders of competent courts with impunity. Eze further accused Tinubu, Wike, Senate President Godswill Akpabio, and Ibas of orchestrating the desecration of Section 7 of the Constitution, which guarantees democratically elected local government councils.
“The Presidency and the National Assembly are clearly on a mission to strangle Nigeria’s democracy and suffocate constitutional local government administration,” Eze warned.
He also condemned the appointment of a new Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) by Ibas and the scheduling of local government elections for August, describing the actions as bizarre, ill-conceived, and unconstitutional.
Eze questioned the scope of Ibas’ powers, wondering how a sole administrator tasked with maintaining law and order could assume the authority to dissolve boards, constitute electoral bodies, and conduct elections.
“These hasty moves reveal the true intent behind the controversial state of emergency and the illegal suspension of Governor Fubara,” he noted. “It is all part of a well-rehearsed strategy to hijack the political structure of Rivers State and hand it over to Wike.”
He accused President Tinubu and Wike of playing a dangerous political game at the expense of peace and constitutional order, asserting that such undemocratic actions could not be attempted in the South-East or any Northern state.
“Just because of one man’s insatiable greed for power, Rivers State must boil and burn if his mission is not fulfilled,” Eze declared, adding that the recent developments indicate Tinubu and Akpabio may have outmaneuvered Wike in their power play.
While reaffirming his disapproval of the so-called state of emergency in Rivers, Eze said the unfolding events have confirmed the ulterior motives behind it. He also warned that Wike cannot win national political relevance through blackmail or manipulation, and would be resisted by political heavyweights within the APC such as Amaechi, Akpabio, Umahi, Uzodimma, and Oshiomhole.
Eze concluded by calling on Nigerians to unite beyond political and ethnic divides to resist what he called President Tinubu’s “descent into despotism.”
“These acts of illegality are tests of the people’s will. Rivers people must decide if they are conquered or brave enough to fight for their constitutional rights,” he said. “The activities of the Sole Administrator are not just illegal—they are dangerous to the very soul of our democracy.”
