Wike’s aide defends appointment of Rivers LGA administrators

A media aide to former Rivers State Governor and FCT minister, Nyesom Wike has stirred controversy on social media after defending the recent appointment of Local Government Area (LGA) administrators by the state’s Sole Administrator, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (rtd), insisting that no court order was violated.

In a post shared on his official X handle, Lere Olayinka challenged critics of the appointments, particularly supporters of Governor Siminalayi Fubara, accusing them of double standards. He pointed out that while Fubara previously ignored valid court orders, he now seeks legal shelter from the same judiciary over political decisions.

To back his claim, the aide attached a certified court order issued by the Federal High Court in Port Harcourt on April 7, 2025, in Suit No: FHC/PH/CS/46/2025. The case was brought by the Pilex Centre for Civic Education Initiative and its coordinator, Courage Nsirimovu, against the Rivers State Administrator.

Contrary to widespread interpretation that the order halted the appointments, the aide emphasized that the ruling did not restrain the Sole Administrator from appointing LGA officials. Instead, the court only directed the applicant to put the respondent (the Administrator) on notice and adjourned the matter to April 14, 2025, for hearing.

Part of the court document, signed by Justice A. T. Mohammed, reads:

“I am of the view that it will serve the interest of justice to order the applicant to put the respondent on notice to appear and show cause why the application should not be granted.”

The aide’s post has further fueled the already heated political climate in Rivers State, where the power tussle between Governor Fubara and loyalists of former Governor Wike continues to dominate headlines. While Fubara’s camp views the appointments as illegal, Wike’s supporters insist that they are within legal bounds—especially in the absence of a valid court injunction.

As the matter heads back to court on April 14, legal observers and political stakeholders alike await clarity on the legality of the appointments and the broader implications for governance in Rivers State.