The Federal High Court in Abuja has been urged to void President Bola Tinubu’s appointment of Vice Admiral Ibokette Ibas (retired) as the Sole Administrator of Rivers State.

The request forms part of the reliefs being sought in a suit, marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/572/2025 filed on Tuesday by an Abuja-based lawyer, Johnmary Jideobi through a group of lawyers led by Chimezie Enuka,

Listed as defendants in the suit are President Tinubu, the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), Vice Admiral Ibas and Attorneys-General of the 36 states.

The plaintiff, in a supporting affidavit, stated that though the President possesses the constitutional power to declare a state of emergency in deserving circumstances in any part of the country, he lacks the power to suspend elected officials like a governor, who is not his appointee.

He added that as a lawyer and all through his years in practice, he has not seen the word ‘Sole Administrator’ in the amended 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

The plaintiff said: “I know that neither the first defendant (the President) nor the second defendant (the AGF) appointed the Governor and Deputy-Governor of Rivers State of Nigeria and that no Governor or Deputy Governor in Nigeria is an appointee of the first and second efendants.

“I know that Nigeria practices Federalism hinged on separation of power.

“I have instituted this suit in the public interest, in the defence of the Rule of Law and accentuation of the supremacy of the Constitution and to preserve the integrity of the Nigerian Constitution which is the most sacred document that holds the Nigerian State in balance and in being.

“I am genuinely worried that, in the absence of the intervention of this Court, removal of duly elected Governors and Deputy-Governors, may become the pastime of the President thereby opening the floodgate of anarchy capable of consuming this nation.

“It will be in the interest of justice for this Honourable Court to grant the prayers contained on the face of this originating summons,” the plaintiff said.

He wants the court to declare that the purported nomination/appointment and swearing in of Vice Admiral Ibas by President Tinubu as the Sole Administrator of Rivers State of Nigeria is unconstitutional, null and void and of no legal effect whatsoever.

Jideobi also wants an order setting aside the suspension of the Governor and the Deputy-Governor of Rivers State of Nigeria by the President March, 18 for being unconstitutional, null and void and of no legal effect whatsoever.

He is equally seeking an order directing Vice Admiral Ibas to vacate, forthwith, the Government House of Rivers State of Nigeria.

Jideobi is asking the court to set-aside all actions and decisions of Sole Administrator of Rivers State for “being unconstitutional, null and of no constitutional force throughout the Federal Republic of Nigeria for all purposes.”

The plaintiff also wants the court to issue a perpetual order of injunction, restraining President Tinubu and his agents, “from either removing, suspending or otherwise tampering with the tenure of the Governor and Deputy-Governor of Rivers State and indeed any other state in Nigeria.

He Is also praying for among others, an order of perpetual injunction, barring President Tinubu, either by himself or anybody acting on his behalf, “from appointing any Sole Administrator into any state Government House in the 36 states of the Federation for any purpose whatsoever.”

The case is yet to be assigned to any judge for hearing. (The Nation)