A coalition of 17 civil society organizations (CSOs) in Rivers State has submitted a petition to the House of Representatives Ad-Hoc Committee overseeing the state’s political crisis, accusing Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (rtd.), the Sole Administrator, of gross financial misconduct and exacerbating the ongoing political turmoil. The CSOs allege that Ibas is acting under the directives of Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory.
The petition, dated April 16, 2025, and addressed to the committee’s chairman, describes Ibas’s actions as “severe, provocative, and brazen acts of lawlessness and impunity” that violate the constitutional principles behind the emergency rule declared by President Bola Tinubu on March 18, 2025. The CSOs claim Ibas has dismantled democratic governance structures in Rivers State while following Wike’s instructions.
The coalition alleges that Ibas has recklessly spent over ₦100 billion in state funds without tangible development or adherence to due process. “The State Administrator has expended over One Hundred Billion Naira with nothing to show or justify this humongous expenditure,” the petition states.
The CSOs further criticized Ibas for failing to engage political stakeholders or mediate peace among conflicting factions. “Since his appointment, the State Administrator has made no genuine effort to consult the warring gladiators or interface with Rivers State stakeholders to secure peace and reconciliation,” they noted. Instead, they accuse him of openly favoring Wike’s faction in appointments and administrative decisions, describing him as an ally executing Wike’s agenda.
The petitioners warned that unchecked, Ibas’s actions could lead to further financial waste and political instability. They urged the House Committee to restore democratic governance by overturning suspensions of political appointees and reinstating statutory institutions dissolved by the Administrator. The CSOs also called for urgent measures to ensure accountability and stability in Rivers State, emphasizing the need to protect the state’s funds from “recklessness and designed political heist.”
