Seventy civil society groups have urged the National Assembly to summon Rivers State’s Sole Administrator, Vice Admiral Ibok Ete Ibas (retd), to account for his stewardship as his six-month tenure expires this Thursday.
Operating under the Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room, the groups accused Ibas of lacking transparency over funds released to him after Governor Siminalayi Fubara’s suspension.
Marking the 2025 International Day of Democracy, the coalition warned that democracy in Nigeria remains fragile, with systemic corruption, weak institutions, electoral distrust, and public disillusionment threatening governance.
They cited worsening economic hardship despite government’s self-praise for reforms, saying inflation, debt, and poverty persist while social services collapse.
The groups also condemned the state of emergency in Rivers, alleging executive overreach, harassment of journalists, and suppression of opposition.
They stressed that Nigeria’s democracy has failed to deliver basic dividends like healthcare and education, linking poverty to democratic decay.
The statement was signed by Situation Room Convener Yunusa Z. Ya’u and co-conveners Franklin Oloniju and Mimidoo Achakpa, who urged urgent restoration of democratic order in Rivers.
