Rivers State Sole Administrator, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (retd.), has approved the appointment of administrators for the 23 Local Government Areas of the state.

The announcement was made on Wednesday through a Special Government Announcement signed by the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Ibibia Worika.

According to the statement, the appointments take immediate effect.

This move comes less than 24 hours after a Federal High Court in Port Harcourt issued an interim order restraining the Sole Administrator from appointing officials to oversee local government councils.

The order, delivered by Justice Adam Muhammed, followed a suit filed by the PILEX Centre for Civic Education Initiative, led by activist Courage Msirimovu. The case, marked FHC/PH/CS/46/2025, challenged the legality of the administrator’s powers to appoint unelected officials to take charge of the councils.

Undeterred by the court’s directive, Vice Admiral Ibas also approved the reconstitution of boards of several state agencies, commissions, and parastatals which had been previously suspended.

The newly appointed administrators are as follows:

1. Mr Okroiyobi Animete – Abua/Odual LGA

2. Mr Goodluck M Iheanacho- Ahoada East LGA

3. Mr Promise Jacob – Ahoada West LGA

4. Dr Tamunotonye Peters – Akuku Toru LGA

5. Surveyor Atajit Francis – Andoni LGA

6. Barrister Ibiapuve Charles – Asari-Toru LGA

7. Mr Kingsley N Banigo – Bonny LGA

8. Dr Sokari Ibifuro Francis – Degema LGA

9. Dr Gloria Obo-Dibiah – Eleme LGA

10. Barrister Franklin P Ajinwon – Emohua LGA

11. Dr Onyenachi S Nwankwor – Etche LGA

12. Professor Gospel G Kpee – Gokana LGA

13. Mr Isaiah Christian Nobuawu – Ikwerre LGA

14. Dr Barinedum Nwibere – Khana LGA

15. Dr Clifford Ndu Walter – Obio/Akpor LGA

16. – Dr Chukwuma Aje – Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni LGA

17. Eliel Owubokiri – Ogu/Bolo LGA

18. Mr Thompson Isodiki – Okrika LGA

19. Manager Ikechi Wala – Omuma LGA

20. Mr Fred Apiafi – Opobo/Nkoro LGA

21. Mr Eletuuo Ihianacho – Oyigbo LGA

22. Dr Sam Kalagbor – Port Harcourt LGA

23. Mr Nuka O.S Gbipah – Tai LGA