The Federal High Court in Port Harcourt has summoned the Rivers State Administrator to appear before it and explain why an interim injunction should not be issued to block the appointment of Sole Administrators for the state’s 23 Local Government Areas (LGAs).
The directive was issued by Honourable Justice Adamu Turaki Mohammed on Monday, April 7, 2025, in response to an ex-parte motion filed by the Pilex Centre for Civic Education Initiative and its Coordinator, Courage Nsirimovu.
The applicants are seeking to halt the Rivers State Administrator and his agents from moving forward with the appointments, arguing that such a move threatens democratic processes in the state. In his ruling, Justice Mohammed stressed the importance of fairness, ordering that the respondent be formally notified and given the opportunity to “show cause” why the requested injunction should not be granted.
The court also issued a hearing notice and adjourned the case to April 14, 2025, for further proceedings. A.O. Imiete, legal counsel for the applicants, pressed the court to approve the reliefs sought, adopting a written address to bolster the motion. The respondent was not represented during the hearing.
The case, docketed as FHC/PH/CS/46/2025, unfolds against a backdrop of escalating political friction in Rivers State, where the proposed appointment of Sole Administrators has ignited controversy over local governance and adherence to constitutional principles. Critics argue that such appointments could bypass elected representation, while supporters claim they are necessary for administrative stability.
