By Katherine Abayomi
In a surprise move, Retired Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas, the Sole Administrator of Rivers State, has suspended all political office holders and appointees in the state, effective immediately. This decision was announced on Wednesday, March 26, 2025, and affects a wide range of public officers, including:
The Secretary to the State Government, The Chief of Staff, All Honourable Commissioners, Chairmen and Members of all Boards, Councils of Agencies, Commissions, Institutions, and Parastatals, All Special Advisers, Special Assistants, and Senior Special Assistants.
The suspended officials are required to hand over to the Permanent Secretaries in their respective ministries, departments, and agencies. In cases where no Permanent Secretary is in place, they are to hand over to the most senior Director or Head of Administration.
This sweeping suspension follows the declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State by President Bola Tinubu, who also suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy Ngozi Odu, and all elected members of the Rivers State House of Assembly for a six-month period .