The PDP Ward Chairmen Forum Coordinator of Rivers State has advised the Sole Administrator of Rivers State, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ette Ibas Ekwe (rtd.) to stop forthwith what it described as illegality and unconstitutional appointments on the part of the sole administrator.

The ward Chairmen in a letter written by Comrade Collins Wobo Chukwu Coordinator, PDP Ward Chairmen Forum and addressed to the Mr. Ibas with the caption “Re: Illegality of Your Actions As Sole Administrator – A Call To Immediately Halt Unconstitutional Appointments”, said: “Should these unconstitutional actions continue, we will have no choice but to pursue all available legal and political remedies to defend the democratic rights of the people.”

Excerpt of the letter:

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.

It has come to our notice that you have proceeded to make and endorse a series of appointments into local governments across the state without lawful authority and in flagrant violation of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. These actions are not only null and void but constitute an affront to democracy, the rule of law, and the will of the people of Rivers State.

We must remind you that the Constitution under Section 7(1) is explicit that:

“The system of local government by democratically elected local government councils is under this Constitution guaranteed.”

The Supreme Court of Nigeria reaffirmed this position in the landmark case Attorney-General of Abia State v. Attorney-General of the Federation (SC/CV/343/2023), where the apex court emphatically held 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.”

And more specifically:

“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.”

Even more recently, Justice Akomaye Agim of the Supreme Court, in a firm and unambiguous pronouncement, ruled against the continued use of caretaker committees or administrators to manage local government areas in Nigeria. He emphasized that such practices amount to the erosion of democratic structures at the grassroots and are a blatant violation of the Constitution.

Your actions, therefore, constitute a direct violation of these binding judgments and are tantamount to contempt of court and a usurpation of democratic authority.

Additionally, your continued disobedience to the laws duly enacted by the Rivers State House of Assembly under the leadership of Rt. Hon. Martins Amaewhule — who has been affirmed by the Supreme Court as the authentic Speaker of the Assembly — is a grave affront to constitutional governance. Your refusal to implement these laws not only undermines the authority of a legitimately constituted legislative body but also constitutes a dangerous defiance of the rule of law and judicial pronouncements.

We wish to state clearly that the people of Rivers State and the PDP as a party reject these illegalities. We demand the following:

1. Immediate cessation of all appointments or administrative actions made under your authority as Sole Administrator.

2. Public withdrawal and disavowal of all unconstitutional directives issued thus far.

3. Full compliance with the Supreme Court ruling, and alignment of all future conduct with the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

This letter serves as a formal protest and warning. Should these unconstitutional actions continue, we will have no choice but to pursue all available legal and political remedies to defend the democratic rights of the people.

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

Yours faithfully,

Comrade Collins Wobo Chukwu

Coordinator, PDP Ward Chairmen Forum

Rivers State