A group of lawyers and organizations strongly criticized the suspension of political appointees by the Rivers State Sole Administrator, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (retd.), describing the action as illegal and potentially harmful to the stability of the state.
According to The Vanguard, a lawyer, Gbenga Ojo, shared a different perspective on the situation, stating that this was not the first time a state of emergency had been declared in Nigeria. He cited the example of Plateau State, where a similar measure was taken during Joshua Dariye’s tenure as governor.
Ojo described the development as the beginning of another legal battle, which he believed would be beneficial for Nigeria’s constitutional democracy. He argued that while the President had the authority to declare a state of emergency, he did not have the power to remove elected officials such as local government chairmen and councillors.
He said, ‘’The key issue is objectivity of the exercise. Sacking political appointees appointed by Fubara and replacing them with Wike’s loyalists, I think is the problem.”
Ojo further clarified that, in his view, the sole administrator had the authority to suspend or remove political appointees but not elected officials. He maintained that while the President’s actions might spark legal battles, the administrator’s powers likely extended only to appointed officials, not those who were elected.