Barth Ndubuwah, Port Harcourt

The Rivers State Sole Administrator, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (Rtd), has called on the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Rivers Chapter, to focus on providing solutions to the ongoing political crisis in the state, rather than exacerbating tensions with divisive rhetoric.

This statement was made on Tuesday through a release from his Senior Special Adviser (SSA) on Media, Hector Igbikiowubo, in Port Harcourt.

According to the release, “Rivers State is undergoing a challenging yet crucial phase in its democratic journey. Instead of contributing to unnecessary division, we expect the NBA, as a key player in Nigeria’s democracy, to engage constructively and offer solutions rather than amplify harmful narratives.”

The statement continued by addressing the NBA’s suggestion to move its 2025 Annual General Conference from Port Harcourt to Enugu. While the government expressed no opposition to the relocation, it disagreed with the reasons behind the move, particularly the claim that the Sole Administrator’s actions have undermined democracy and the rule of law. The release described this reasoning as misleading, unfair, and unbefitting of an organisation committed to justice and fairness.

“The NBA’s statement fails to consider the constitutional foundation of the current administration in Rivers State. The declaration of a state of emergency was a necessary response to a breakdown of public order and democratic processes,” the statement explained. “President Bola Tinubu, in exercising his constitutional powers, acted in the best interest of the state to restore stability. The Sole Administrator’s role is clear: to manage the transitional phase and ensure the return to full democratic governance, as stipulated by the Constitution.”

The statement pointed out that the NBA’s claim that the Sole Administrator’s intervention “flouts the rule of law” is inaccurate and disregards the Supreme Court’s rulings that have upheld key decisions made during this period. It referenced a landmark ruling by the Supreme Court in Suit No. SC/CV/1176/2024 (Rivers State House of Assembly & Others vs. Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) & Nine Others), which declared that any local government election held in violation of the Electoral Act is “unconstitutional, null, and void.”

It also clarified that the Sole Administrator remains committed to restoring democratic institutions, upholding the constitutional rights of all residents, and respecting judicial rulings, including those from the Supreme Court.

The statement criticised the NBA for reducing the complex constitutional matter to political sensationalism and questioned its integrity in handling the issue of the N300 million already paid by the Rivers State Government for the 2025 conference hosting rights. “If the NBA truly stands on principle, it should show the same integrity by returning these funds instead of benefiting from a state it now publicly discredits,” the statement added.

The Sole Administrator reaffirmed his focus on stabilising the state and overseeing a smooth transition back to full constitutional governance.