Chief Olabode George, former Deputy National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, has publicly denounced President Bola Tinubu’s decision to hold local government elections in Rivers State under the supervision of Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas, who was appointed sole administrator following the declaration of a state of emergency on March 18, 2025.
George claims that this move is unconstitutional and illegal because Ibas lacks legal authority, having not been elected to oversee such elections.
He characterized the action as a threat to Nigeria’s democracy, criticizing the Tinubu administration for reckless behavior and cautioning against a shift toward authoritarianism.
George also urged the Senate to deny Tinubu’s nominations to the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission and other agencies, stressing that allowing an unelected sole administrator to oversee local government polls undermines constitutional governance and disregards the will of the people.
He cited Nigeria’s history, cautioning that such actions could trigger political instability and drawing parallels with past crises in the Western Region during the 1960s.
