In a high-stakes legal battle, the Federal High Court in Abuja has been asked to declare the recent appointment of Vice Admiral Ibokette Ibas (Rtd) as the Sole Administrator of Rivers State unconstitutional, potentially triggering the dismissal of the retired military officer from office.
The legal action, filed by Abuja-based lawyer Johnmary Jideobi, names President Bola Tinubu as the first defendant, with Vice Admiral Ibas (Rtd) and the Attorneys-General of all 36 Nigerian states as additional defendants. The suit, identified as FHC/ABJ/CS/572/2025, was lodged before the court on Tuesday.
The plaintiff’s main contention is that the appointment of a Sole Administrator for Rivers State is in violation of Nigeria’s Constitution. Jideobi argues that Ibas’s appointment, alongside all actions he has taken in his role, should be voided and declared without constitutional standing.
He further seeks a court order barring President Tinubu from interfering with the tenure of any elected Governor or Deputy Governor in Nigeria, and from appointing Sole Administrators to state governments in the future.
In the petition, the lawyer points to key sections of the 1999 Constitution, including Sections 1, 5(2), 180, 188, 189, 305, and 306, which, according to him, prohibit the suspension or removal of elected officials like governors, except under very specific conditions outlined in the Constitution.
Jideobi insists that the appointment of a Sole Administrator to replace a sitting governor is not one of the constitutionally recognized methods of governance and that such a move could lead to an erosion of democratic processes.
The plaintiff specifically challenges the actions taken on March 18, 2025, when President Tinubu allegedly suspended the Governor and Deputy Governor of Rivers State and swore in Vice Admiral Ibas (Rtd) as Sole Administrator.
According to the suit, these actions are unconstitutional, null, and void, with the plaintiff demanding the immediate reversal of Ibas’s appointment and the reinstatement of the duly elected officials.
Jideobi argues that while President Tinubu has the constitutional power to declare a state of emergency in certain cases, he does not have the authority to remove elected state officials who were not appointed by him.
The plaintiff points out that, in over 20 years of legal practice, he has never encountered any constitutional provision that empowers the president to appoint a Sole Administrator to govern a state. He also warns of the potential risks to Nigeria’s federal system if the president is allowed to continue such practices unchecked.
“This case is a crucial one for the preservation of Nigeria’s rule of law and the sanctity of our Constitution,” Jideobi said in his affidavit. “If left unchallenged, the president’s actions could set a dangerous precedent, undermining the democratic rights of citizens and the integrity of our constitutional framework.”
The suit underscores the principle of federalism in Nigeria, emphasizing that the appointment of a governor or deputy governor is strictly within the purview of the electorate, not the president or any federal agency.
“Without the intervention of this court, we risk descending into anarchy, where elected officials can be removed at will by the president. This would threaten the very fabric of our democracy,” Jideobi continued, stressing that his legal challenge is a fight to protect the rights of Nigerians and safeguard the constitution.
The plaintiff also calls for Vice Admiral Ibas (Rtd) to vacate the Rivers State Government House immediately and for the Federal Government to cease interfering with the elected officials of the state.
At present, no hearing date has been set for the case, but the outcome could have far-reaching implications for Nigeria’s political landscape, especially concerning the balance of power between federal and state governments.
This legal challenge has stirred considerable attention, with many observers watching closely to see how the court will rule on the constitutionality of appointing a Sole Administrator to govern an entire state, bypassing the will of the people.
