PDP Forum Slams Rivers Sole Administrator Over Unconstitutional Appointments, Threatens Legal Action
In a bold and strongly worded communiqué, the PDP Ward Chairmen Forum of Rivers State has issued a stern warning to the Sole Administrator of Rivers State, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas Ekwe (rtd.), demanding an immediate halt to what they described as unconstitutional governance practices and the illegal imposition of caretaker administrators across local government councils.
The statement, which has since gone viral across political and legal circles, was signed by Comrade Collins Wobo Chukwu, the Coordinator of the PDP Ward Chairmen Forum. The letter, titled “Illegality of Your Actions As Sole Administrator – A Call To Immediately Halt Unconstitutional Appointments”, emphasizes that the current actions of the Sole Administrator not only undermine the rule of law but are in direct conflict with binding constitutional provisions and Supreme Court rulings.
According to the Forum, the ongoing appointment of unelected individuals into key administrative roles within local governments is a gross violation of Section 7(1) of the Nigerian Constitution, which guarantees a system of democratically elected local government councils.
The Forum referenced the Supreme Court’s landmark judgment in Attorney-General of Abia State v. Attorney-General of the Federation (SC/CV/343/2023), where the court unequivocally ruled that the appointment of unelected caretakers in place of elected officials is illegal and unconstitutional.
Justice Akomaye Agim, in his recent pronouncement from the apex court, also declared that the use of caretaker committees at the grassroots level is a direct assault on democratic institutions and a breach of constitutional order.
The PDP Forum further accused the Sole Administrator of deliberate disobedience to laws passed by the Rivers State House of Assembly, led by Rt. Hon. Martins Amaewhule, whose speakership has been upheld by the Supreme Court. The Forum described this act as an erosion of legislative authority and a dangerous precedent for constitutional democracy.
Key Demands Made by the PDP Ward Chairmen Forum:
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Immediate cessation of all illegal and unconstitutional appointments made by the Sole Administrator.
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Public retraction and nullification of all directives that contravene the Nigerian Constitution.
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Full compliance with Supreme Court judgments and strict adherence to democratic procedures as outlined by federal law.
The Forum issued a final warning, declaring that failure to comply would trigger robust legal and political actions to defend the sovereignty of the people and the sanctity of Nigeria’s democracy.
They reiterated that Rivers State citizens, stakeholders in governance, and the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) collectively reject these ongoing infractions and demand immediate course correction.
“This is a critical juncture in our democratic journey. History will remember where each of us stood when constitutionalism was under attack,” the statement reads.
For those tracking Nigeria’s democratic stability, constitutional law, electoral integrity, and grassroots governance, this development in Rivers State could mark a defining moment in the battle to preserve democratic norms amid rising political tensions.
