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Court Asked to Remove Rivers Sole Administrator, Declares Appointment Unconstitutional

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A legal challenge has been filed at the Federal High Court in Abuja seeking the removal of Vice Admiral Ibokette Ibas (Rtd) as the Sole Administrator of Rivers State. The suit, lodged on Tuesday by Abuja-based lawyer Johnmary Jideobi, contends that the appointment of a sole administrator for the state is unconstitutional.

 

The case lists President Bola Tinubu as the first defendant, alongside the Attorney-General of the Federation, Vice Admiral Ibas, and the Attorneys-General of all 36 states, making a total of 39 defendants. The lawsuit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/572/2025, seeks a court declaration that all decisions made by Ibas as Rivers State’s Sole Administrator are null and void.

 

The plaintiff is also asking the court for an order preventing President Tinubu or any of his agents from removing, suspending, or interfering with the tenure of any state governor or deputy governor. Additionally, the suit demands a perpetual injunction stopping the president from appointing sole administrators in any state government house across Nigeria.

 

Jideobi’s legal argument is based on constitutional provisions, including Sections 1, 5(2), 180, 188, 189, 305, and 306 of the 1999 Constitution. He asserts that these provisions do not grant the president the power to remove or suspend a duly elected governor and appoint a replacement, such as a sole administrator. He contends that only the legal processes outlined in the constitution, such as impeachment or resignation, can lead to the removal of a governor or deputy governor.

 

Among the declarations sought, the plaintiff asks the court to nullify the suspension of the Rivers State governor and deputy governor on March 18, 2025. He also wants the appointment of Ibas as sole administrator declared unconstitutional and for the retired admiral to vacate the Rivers State Government House immediately.

 

In a supporting affidavit, Jideobi argues that Nigeria operates a federal system based on separation of powers, and the president lacks the authority to suspend elected officials. He warns that allowing such actions could set a dangerous precedent, leading to the arbitrary removal of governors and potential instability in the country.

 

No date has been set for the hearing of the case.

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We are calling on Governor Alex Otti to leave Labour party, ignore ADC and return to his political home, APGA, where he started—-APGA National Vice Chairman South-East

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The National Vice Chairman, South East, of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, Augustine Ehiemere, has urged Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, to return to APGA, describing it as his true political home and the most stable platform for delivering sustainable governance.

Ehiemere made the call during the Abia South Senatorial District APGA stakeholders’ meeting held in the state last week.

It would be recalled that Alex Otti was the governorship candidate of APGA in Abia State in the 2015 and 2019 elections. The APGA National Vice Chairman, South East, appealed to the governor to resist the temptation of aligning with other political parties, which he said are unstable.

“APGA remains the healthiest and most stable political party in Nigeria today,” Ehiemere stated.

“We are calling on Governor Alex Otti to return to his political home, APGA, where he started.
Labour Party is presently a breeding ground for crisis. ADC is almost in disarray, APC is not a safe ground for him, and PDP has already diminished. APGA is the only platform that offers stability and ideological consistency for him to continue his good works,”

He commended Governor Otti’s performance in office, particularly in the area of security and welfare, and supported the collaboration between the Abia governor and his Enugu State counterpart, Peter Mbah, as well as the establishment of the Abia State Security Trust Fund.

 

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Buhari: He sent DSS to my house at midnight, I’m still alive – Igboho

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Yoruba nation agitator, Sunday Adeniyi Adeyemo, popularly known as Sunday Igboho has reacted to the death of former President, Muhammadu Buhari.

Igboho in a viral video, recounted how the former president allegedly ordered officers of the Department of State Services, DSS, to invade his residence at midnight.

Igboho, who claimed that the invasion was aimed at taking him out, also alleged that the former president colluded with some Yoruba indigenes.

He said, “I thank God for my life today, see life! The man that sent DSS to come and kill me in the middle of the night on July 4th 2021 has died today.

“My people, we are supposed to learn from this. That man, Muhammadu Buhari is dead, but I’m alive today. I thank God for my life.

“The man that ganged up with some stupid Yoruba people came to my house to take my life but God said no”.

Ekwutosblog reports that the former Nigerian leader died on Sunday in London after a brief illness.

His remains are expected to arrive in the country for immediate burial in Daura, Katsina state on Monday. 

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Constitution Amendment: Niger Govt submits proposal

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The Niger State Government has submitted a joint document to the House Committee on Constitution Review containing the state’s collective views and recommendations on key areas.

The areas include restructuring, devolution of powers, state policing, fiscal federalism, local government autonomy, and electoral process.

The position of the state was presented by the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Nasiru Mu’azu during the public hearing on the review of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) for the North Central Zone, Centre A, covering Niger, Kwara, and Kogi States in Minna.

The Commissioner explained that the document was developed after broad consultations and stakeholder engagement across the state.

Mu’azu also noted that the state government had made a case for additional creation of local government areas in the state while expressing optimism that the document will be given due consideration

The House Committee Consultant, Prof. Kathleen Okafor, who presented the summarised compendium of bills before the House, disclosed that it has some thematic areas based on evolving needs, which are electoral, judicial, legislative, and physical reform

“Others are inclusive governance, security and policing, devolution of powers, strengthening of institutions, the role of rural communities, traditional institutions, citizenship and Indigineship, fundamental rights, and many more,” Okafor said.

The Etsu Nupe and Chairman Niger State Council of traditional rulers, Alh Yahaya Abubakar, on behalf of the National Council of Traditional Rulers also submitted a memo on the Constitution amendment centred on creating roles for traditional rulers on matters involving religion, culture, security, and justice, among others.

Presentations for the creation of Edu State comprising Bida, Lapai and Agaie Emirates, and the Kainji State consist of Borgu and Kontagora Emirates of the present Niger State and Zuru Emirate in Kebbi State were made by Engr. Yabagi Yusuf Sani and Amb. Ahmed Musa Ibeto, respectively.

Similarly, representatives from Kogi and Kwara states also submitted their memos for the creation of Okun, Okura and Efesowofo states out of the present Kogi and Kwara states, respectively.

The House Committee received documents from women groups, organized labour unions and youth groups, among others, for consideration.

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