The Ad-Hoc Committee on Rivers State Oversight has officially summoned the state’s Sole Administrator, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (rtd.), for an interactive session scheduled to take place on Thursday at 4:00 p.m. The meeting is set to hold in Room 414 of the House of Representatives New Building at the National Assembly Complex in Abuja.
This development was made public through an official statement released by the Spokesman of the House of Representatives, Hon. Akin Rotimi, on Wednesday.
The summons comes in the wake of the recent inauguration of a 21-member ad-hoc committee by the Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, on Tuesday. The committee is chaired by the House Leader, Professor Julius Ihonvbere, and was established to conduct oversight activities in Rivers State following the declaration of a state of emergency in the region.
According to Professor Ihonvbere, the interactive session with Vice Admiral Ibas is designed to “ascertain the true state of affairs in Rivers State and ensure that the House remains properly guided in the discharge of its oversight responsibilities in the public interest.”
The formation of the committee was triggered by a joint resolution of the National Assembly endorsing the Presidential Proclamation of a State of Emergency in Rivers State. This drastic measure was taken by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu after weeks of persistent political turbulence in the oil-rich South-South state.
The crisis, which has rocked the governance structure of Rivers State, culminated in the suspension of key political figures, including Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, and the members of the Rivers State House of Assembly. The action has sparked widespread debate across political and civil society circles, with many questioning the constitutionality of the president’s interventions.
In response to the escalating instability, President Tinubu appointed Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (rtd.), a former Chief of Naval Staff, as the Sole Administrator of Rivers State — a role that has no precedent in the democratic governance framework of Nigeria’s Fourth Republic. The appointment was intended to restore order and provide interim leadership during the emergency period.
As the eyes of the nation turn to Thursday’s session, political observers and stakeholders are keen to see how the Sole Administrator will defend the administration’s actions and outline plans for stabilizing the state’s political and administrative climate.
This interactive session is expected to be a pivotal moment in the ongoing national discourse around constitutional governance, federal intervention, and the future of democracy in Rivers State.
Fresh Facts Magazine will continue to monitor developments from the National Assembly and provide in-depth reporting on the outcome of the committee’s engagement.
