Rivers PDP Ward Leaders Demand End to Unconstitutional Appointments by Sole Administrator

The Coordinator of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Ward Chairmen Forum in Rivers State, Comrade Wobo Chukwu, has issued a stern call to the Sole Administrator of Rivers State, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas Ekwe (Rtd), urging an immediate halt to what the group describes as “illegal and unconstitutional appointments.”

In a strongly worded letter titled “Re: Illegality of Your Actions as Sole Administrator – A Call to Immediately Halt Unconstitutional Appointments,” Comrade Collins Wobo Chukwu, writing on behalf of the forum, criticised the administrator’s actions and warned of possible legal and political redress if such conduct continues.

“We, the PDP Ward Chairmen Forum of Rivers State, write to express our unequivocal condemnation of your recent actions as Sole Administrator of Rivers State, which we view as unlawful, unconstitutional, and deeply troubling,” the letter began.

According to the forum, the administrator has made and endorsed a number of appointments into local governments across the state without lawful authority, directly contravening the Nigerian Constitution.

The group referenced Section 7(1) of the Constitution, which guarantees that local government systems must be run by democratically elected councils. They also cited the Supreme Court ruling in Attorney-General of Abia State v. Attorney-General of the Federation (SC/CV/343/2023), which declared that:

“The practice of appointing unelected persons to administer the affairs of local governments is a breach of the Constitution and must not be tolerated in a constitutional democracy.”

The judgement went on to state that:

“Any law or action which permits the dissolution of democratically elected local government councils and their replacement with caretaker committees is null, void and of no effect whatsoever.”

Justice Akomaye Agim of the Supreme Court also recently ruled firmly against the use of caretaker committees, calling such practices an erosion of democratic structures and a flagrant violation of the Constitution.

The forum further criticised the Sole Administrator for allegedly refusing to implement laws passed by the Rivers State House of Assembly, led by Speaker Rt. Hon. Martins Amaewhule, whose position has been upheld by the Supreme Court. They described this defiance as a serious breach of constitutional governance and the rule of law.

“Your refusal to comply with duly enacted laws is not only a challenge to the authority of a constitutionally established legislature but also a dangerous affront to the rule of law,” the letter read.

The forum, in its demands, called for:

1. The immediate cessation of all appointments and administrative actions made under the authority of the Sole Administrator;

2. A public withdrawal and repudiation of all unconstitutional directives issued thus far;

3. Full compliance with constitutional provisions and Supreme Court rulings in all future governance activities.

They concluded with a stern warning:

“This letter serves as a formal protest and a final warning. Should these unconstitutional actions persist, we will be compelled to pursue all available legal and political channels to protect the democratic rights of Rivers people.”

“History will remember where each of us stood in moments like this. We urge you to stand on the side of the law,” they added.