Former gubernatorial candidate of the Young People’s Party, YPP, in the 2023 general election in Rivers State, Dr Danagogo Wenike-Briggs has faulted the appointment of local government administrators for the 23 local councils of Rivers State by the Sole Administrator, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas (Rtd).
Ibas had on Tuesday, 8th April 2025, announced the appointment of the administrators for the 23 local councils of the state.
The announcement was contained in a statement issued by Secretary to the State Government, Prof Ibibia Worika.
But Wenike-Briggs while reacting to the development described the action as unconstitutional and a violation of the 1999 Condition of Nigeria (as amended).
He said the constitution only recognised democratically elected chairmen for the local councils and not administrators.
The former governorship candidate who is also the Chairman of YPP in Rivers State further faulted plans by the sole administrator to prepare a fresh budget for the state and other sections taken by him.
Wenike-Briggs argued that it was wrong for Ibas to be acting as if he was an elected governor by delving into issues that requires only a democratically elected state chief executive and an elected assembly to handle.
“Let it be clearly stated, the administrator has no constitutional authority to act as a governor in Rivers State and certainly no mandate to appoint local government administrators. His actions are illegitimate, unconstitutional, and represents a direct threat to democratic governance in Nigeria.
“The 1999 constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) is unambiguous about how the local government areas are to be governed. In section 7, subsection 1, this section guarantees democratic elections at the local government level. No where in the constitution does it guarantee or grant a state administrator, let alone a military appointee the powers to appoint LGA caretakers or administrators in place of elected officials” he stated.
He called on well-meaning Rivers people to intervene and stop the sole administrator from acting arbitrarily in the state saying; “The admiral must be stopped. His appointment, actions, and intentions are unconstitutional. We stand by the constitution of Nigeria because we are patriotic citizens.
” The rule of law must prevail and democracy must not be traded for political puppetry. Enough is enough. Rivers state is not a military barrack. It is a constitutional democracy and we, the people must defend it by all cost”.
While pledging his loyalty to the suspended governor of the state, Siminalayi Fubara, Wenike-Briggs called on people of the state to resist the appointments of sole administrators for the 23 councils of the state and to insist on democratically elected leaders.
“We must hold firmly to our constitutional rights and say no to illegality. No to appointed LGA heads. And yes to democracy. Nigeria cannot afford to continue in this direction. We must reclaim our state, our councils, and our future,” he maintained.
