Rivers Sole Administrator Allegedly Retrieves Official Vehicles from Suspended Deputy Governor

Amid the ongoing political turmoil in Rivers State, reports have emerged alleging that the Sole Administrator of the state, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (Rtd.), has ordered the retrieval of three official vehicles previously assigned to the suspended Deputy Governor, Professor Ngozi Ordu.

The development, which remains unconfirmed by official government sources, has generated widespread reactions on social media, particularly on platforms like X (formerly Twitter), where the handle @askPHPeople posted claims that the vehicles had been repossessed as part of administrative restructuring following the suspension of state leadership.

Professor Ordu, along with Governor Siminalayi Fubara and members of the state House of Assembly, were suspended in March 2025 following a presidential declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu subsequently appointed Vice Admiral Ibas to oversee governance in the state during the transitional period.

Although the Rivers State Government has not released an official statement regarding the retrieval of the vehicles, the reported move is seen by some observers as a symbolic assertion of administrative authority and a possible step toward reclaiming government resources allocated to suspended officials.

In recent weeks, similar reports—including claims that the Sole Administrator summoned both the suspended Governor and Deputy Governor for questioning—have been publicly debunked by the state’s information department.

The government warned against the spread of unverified information and urged the public to rely on official channels for credible updates.

Analysts suggest that whether confirmed or not, such actions—real or perceived—reflect the deepening political rift within Rivers State and signal a firm administrative stance from the federally appointed leadership.

As of this report, efforts to obtain comments from the office of the Sole Administrator or the spokesperson of the suspended Deputy Governor have not been successful.