President Tinubu Expands Powers of Rivers State Sole Administrator in Local Government Elections

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has officially modified the powers of the Sole Administrator of Rivers State concerning the conduct of local government council elections, as well as the prompt determination of petitions and litigations related to the ongoing emergency administration in the state. This development was formally published in the Federal Republic of Nigeria Official Gazette Number 125, Lagos, dated July 22, 2025.

Key among the modifications is the suspension of Section 2, Subsection 2 of the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) Law Number 2 of 2018. This section previously governed the appointment of the Chairman and Members of RSIEC. The suspension has effectively transferred the power to appoint and swear in the RSIEC Chairman and members to the Sole Administrator. This change greatly centralizes electoral authority under the Sole Administrator, who currently manages the state under an emergency rule declared by the President.

The Sole Administrator, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (Retired), had earlier exercised this enhanced authority by appointing Dr. Michael Ekpai Odey as Chairman of RSIEC, along with six other members, taking effect from April 7, 2025. These appointments have been controversial due to Dr. Odey’s non-indigene status, being from Cross River State, but have been confirmed by the Nigerian Senate following legal scrutiny. Dr. Odey and his team are tasked with organizing local government elections in a state where political tensions remain high following the Supreme Court’s nullification of previous local elections in 2024.

The President’s move to empower the Sole Administrator also includes altering the powers related to the swift handling of electoral petitions and litigation, intended to facilitate smoother electoral processes amid the emergency governance.

However, legal experts have raised concerns regarding the constitutional validity of these actions. Critics argue that only an elected governor has the constitutional mandate to conduct local government elections, as outlined in Section 7 of the Nigerian Constitution, and that the Sole Administrator’s role is limited to maintaining peace and order. They warn that elections conducted under this framework risk being declared illegal and call for public vigilance and possible judicial intervention.

This significant federal intervention highlights the ongoing political and legal complexities in Rivers State as it navigates a delicate transition period under emergency rule, with the government pushing to restore elected local councils while maintaining control via the Sole Administrator.

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The developments are closely watched across Nigeria, given their implications for federal-state relations, electoral governance, and the preservation of democratic norms in the country.

Further updates will follow as the local government elections in Rivers State approach under these modified arrangements.