New details have emerged regarding the sudden and indefinite postponement of the House of Representatives’ planned interactive session with the Sole Administrator of Rivers State, retired Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas, with indications pointing to a behind-the-scenes struggle between the Presidency and the legislature....READ ORIGINAL & FULL CONTENT FROM SOURCE | READ ORIGINAL & FULL CONTENT FROM SOURCE...
President Bola Tinubu had, on March 18, 2025, declared a state of emergency in Rivers State, placing the administration of the state under Ibas, who, according to the President, is to report directly to the Federal Executive Council (FEC).
However, the House of Representatives, in its March 20 resolution approving the emergency rule, invoked Section 11(4) of the 1999 Constitution, effectively granting the National Assembly oversight responsibilities over the state.
In line with this mandate, Speaker of the House, Tajudeen Abbas, on Tuesday, inaugurated a 21-member ad hoc committee chaired by Rep. Julius Ihonvbere, to oversee the Administrator’s activities.
Barely a day later, on Wednesday, the committee issued a summons for Ibas to appear before it on Thursday to account for his first month in office.
But in a surprising development, the House announced an indefinite postponement of the session just 24 hours after the summons were issued.
House spokesperson, Rep. Akin Rotimi, disclosed the development in a statement but gave little to no reason for the move.
“In the spirit of transparent and effective oversight, the committee will promptly inform the public once the rescheduled date is confirmed,” Rotimi stated.
While the official communication cited the Administrator’s request as the reason for the postponement, sources within the National Assembly have hinted at deeper political undercurrents driving the decision.
The actions of the administrator since taking charge in Rivers State, particularly the dismantling of democratic structures have led to criticisms from stakeholders.
Among the controversial decisions taken under Ibas’ administration are the sacking of commissioners, top civil servants, political appointees, and caretaker chairmen across all 23 local government areas. The replacement of the chairman of the state’s electoral commission has also sparked concerns over alleged overreach.
A member of the House panel revealed that these actions were among the key issues the committee sought to address in its now-shelved engagement with Ibas.
Meanwhile, a senior legislative aide, who spoke on condition of anonymity, revealed that the Presidency may have raised objections to the House’s decision to directly oversee the Administrator.
“The Presidency actually asked the House to back down on the mission for the simple reason that the President has continued to insist on the Administrator reporting directly to the FEC, which is chaired by the President himself,” the source said.
The source added that if the National Assembly were to truly exercise oversight, the ad hoc committee should have included members from both chambers—a step the Senate reportedly declined to take after interpreting the President’s stance.
“The leadership of the Senate had rightly gauged President Tinubu’s body language concerning who oversees the affairs of the Rivers Administrator.
“That is why the Senate did not nominate any of its members into the panel to avoid potential clash with the Presidency,” the source explained.
The source added, “There is more to the indefinite postponement of the interactive session between the Reps panel and the Rivers Administrator than what is being served the public.
“The indefinite postponement, as announced by the House, may as well be ad infinitum. It’s a clever way of saying that Rivers is a no-go-area for the federal legislature.”