Rivers LG administrator appointed by Ibas resigns… what to know
Rivers LG administrator appointed by Ibas resigns
The Administrator of Ahoada East Local Government Area in Rivers State, Goodluck Ihemnacho, has resigned from office barely two months after his appointment.
Ihemnacho was one of the 23 local government administrators appointed by the State Sole Administrator, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (retd), following the controversial state of emergency declared in the state by President Bola Tinubu in March 2025.
Ihemnacho’s resignation, contained in a letter dated June 20, 2025, was addressed to the Sole Administrator and has since gone viral on social media, sparking widespread speculation and unrest in the local government. In the letter, Ihemnacho stated that his decision was motivated by a desire to return to private business. “I humbly write to your noble office to convey to you my resignation as the Administrator, Ahoada East LGA. My sincere gratitude goes to the government of Rivers State and the good people of Ahoada East for finding me worthy to serve… from 11th day of April 2025 to 20th day of July 2025,” the letter read.
However, discrepancies in the resignation letter and emerging reports suggest the situation may be more complex. Notably, the letter erroneously stated his tenure would end on July 20, 2025, despite being dated June 20. This has led to questions about the authenticity and circumstances under which the resignation was written.
A source familiar with the incident, who requested anonymity due to the sensitivity of the matter, alleged that Ihemnacho may have been forced to resign under duress. According to the source, unidentified individuals stormed the council secretariat shortly before the resignation was submitted, physically assaulted the administrator, and coerced him into signing the letter. “Intelligence sources indicate that minutes before the purported resignation, some men moved into the LGA council, manhandled the administrator, and forced him to sign the resignation letter,” the source alleged.
Following the incident, the Ahoada East Council Secretariat has reportedly been shut down, and police operatives have taken over the premises to prevent a breakdown of law and order. The Rivers State Government and the office of the Sole Administrator have yet to release an official statement on the matter.
The development further heightens political tension in Rivers State, where the appointment of unelected administrators to local government areas has already sparked protests, legal challenges, and condemnation from civil society organisations. The opposition has accused the Tinubu-led federal government and the Ibas administration of undermining democratic governance and suppressing dissent through unconstitutional means.
As investigations continue and pressure mounts for an explanation, the incident in Ahoada East underscores the volatility of the political atmosphere in Rivers and raises broader concerns about safety, due process, and the rule of law within the state.
