In a development that underscores the deepening political crisis in Rivers State, the Nigerian Senate has constituted an 18-member committee to oversee the activities of the state’s controversial Sole Administrator, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (retd.). The announcement was made by Senate President Godswill Akpabio during Tuesday’s plenary session, marking a significant federal intervention into the ongoing constitutional and political impasse in the oil-rich state.
Akpabio stated that the formation of the committee aims to promote transparency and accountability in Rivers State’s governance following recent developments that led to the installation of a Sole Administrator, a move that has stirred national debate and legal contention. The committee, chaired by Senate Majority Leader Opeyemi Bamidele, has been tasked with exercising legislative oversight over the administrator’s activities and ensuring compliance with democratic norms.
The committee’s formation comes amid growing concerns about governance in Rivers State, where elected local councils were reportedly dissolved and replaced with appointed administrators, sparking accusations of authoritarian overreach and violations of constitutional order. The development has triggered lawsuits, protests, and warnings from civil society organisations and opposition leaders. The Senate’s oversight initiative is seen by some as an attempt to restore institutional balance and protect constitutional governance, while critics argue it may entrench federal interference in a state matter.
The newly constituted committee comprises senators drawn from across geopolitical zones and political affiliations, including Adams Oshiomhole, Simon Lalong, Ireti Kingibe of the Labour Party, and Idiat Adebule, among others. Senate President Akpabio stressed the urgency of the assignment, charging members to begin oversight activities immediately while leaving room for possible restructuring of the committee after further consultation.
This action by the Senate adds another layer to the ongoing battle over control in Rivers State, where tension between political actors has remained unresolved since the 2023 general elections. The appointment of Ibas, a retired naval officer, has been criticized by stakeholders who claim the state is being run in contravention of democratic tenets, especially in the absence of duly elected local government officials.
