Tinubu swears in Ibas as Rivers sole administrator

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has officially sworn in Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (Rtd) as the Sole Administrator of Rivers State.

The swearing-in ceremony took place on Wednesday at the State House in Abuja, with key government officials in attendance, including the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, and the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi.

The appointment follows President Tinubu’s declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State on Tuesday night. The move is aimed at addressing the ongoing political crisis in the state.

As part of the emergency measures, Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, Ngozi Odu, and all members of the Rivers State House of Assembly have been suspended for an initial period of six months.

In the wake of these developments, Tinubu appointed Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas to oversee the administration of the state until stability is restored.

Ibas, a retired naval officer, previously served as the Chief of Naval Staff from 2015 to 2021 under former President Muhammadu Buhari.