President Bola Tinubu has appointed Vice Admiral Ibok-ete Ibas (rtd.) as the Sole Administrator of Rivers State.
The swearing-in ceremony took place on Wednesday after a brief meeting with the president.
Ibas’s appointment follows Tinubu’s declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State, which included the suspension of Governor Siminalayi Fubara, Deputy Governor Ngozi Odu, and members of the Rivers State House of Assembly.
The decision, made under Section 305 of the 1999 Constitution, comes amid escalating political tensions in the state.
Tinubu’s actions have faced widespread condemnation from figures like Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi, and Femi Falana, as well as various political groups, including the PDP and LP.
However, the move has received support from the pro-Nyesom Wike Assembly, which accused Fubara of violating a Supreme Court ruling.
Ibas, a former Chief of Naval Staff from 2015 to 2021, was appointed by President Muhammadu Buhari and awarded the National Honour of CFR in 2022.
He is a distinguished member of both the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs and the Nigerian Institute of Management.