Tension Rises as Rivers State Sole Administrator Snubs House Committee—Again

 

The political drama in Nigeria’s Rivers State took another twist this week as Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (rtd), the Sole Administrator of the state, failed once again to honor an invitation from the House of Representatives Ad-Hoc Committee on Rivers State Oversight.

The committee, inaugurated by Speaker Tajudeen Abbas on April 15, 2025, had hoped to engage Ibas in a critical interactive session to unpack recent developments in the state under his leadership. The original meeting date of April 17 was postponed at Ibas’s own request and rescheduled for April 24. But when the new day came, the administrator was a no-show again.

Despite being reportedly present in Abuja for a National Economic Council meeting at the Presidential Villa, Ibas did not appear before the lawmakers at the National Assembly, sparking fresh questions about transparency and accountability.

What’s more curious is the radio silence around the situation. It’s unclear whether formal summons was delivered and acknowledged. No details of communication between the committee and the administrator have been shared, leaving citizens and stakeholders in the dark.

Following the no-show, Committee Chairman Rep. Julius Ihonvbere and his team quietly exited Committee Room 301 without addressing the press. When pressed by journalists, Ihonvbere offered a brief and pointed, “No comment.”

Now, with no new date in sight, the session has been postponed indefinitely fueling speculation about what’s really happening behind the scenes in Rivers State.

Is the administrator avoiding scrutiny, or is there more to the story than meets the eye? For now, Nigerians are left waiting... and watching.