Again, Rivers Administrator Ibas Shuns House Of Reps Panel Over Emergency Rule
The Rivers State Administrator, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ette Ekwe Ibas (retd.), has again failed to appear before the House of Representatives Ad-Hoc Committee set up to monitor developments under the emergency rule in the state.
Speaker of the House, Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, had inaugurated the 21-member committee on April 15, 2025, to provide oversight on the implementation of federal directives and ensure that the caretaker government in Rivers State operates within legal and democratic bounds.
The committee, chaired by House Leader Prof. Julius Ihonvbere and deputised by Minority Whip Ali Isa J.C., includes notable lawmakers such as Idris Ahmed Wase, James Faleke, Wole Oke, Akarachi Amadi, Igariwey Enwo, and Fatima Talba, among others.
The panel had initially invited Vice Admiral Ibas to a meeting on Thursday, April 17, but he failed to attend. The session was rescheduled for Thursday, April 24, to address concerns regarding his activities since assuming office as Administrator under the controversial emergency rule.
However, despite attending the National Economic Council (NEC) meeting at the Presidential Villa earlier in the day, Ibas did not show up at the House Hearing Room 301 where the committee convened by 3:00 pm.
Lawmakers reportedly waited for over 30 minutes before vacating the venue, visibly displeased with the administrator’s absence.
When approached for comments, members of the Ihonvbere-led committee declined to speak to journalists.
The committee’s mandate includes ensuring that governance in Rivers State under the emergency rule aligns with constitutional standards and helps facilitate the return of democratic leadership in the oil-rich state.
