In a development raising fresh questions about accountability and transparency, Rivers State Sole Administrator, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (rtd), has once again failed to appear before the House of Representatives Ad-Hoc Committee on Rivers State Oversight.
The committee, established by Speaker Tajudeen Abbas and chaired by Majority Leader Rep. Julius Ihonvbere, had scheduled an interactive session for Thursday, April 24, 2025, to examine developments in Rivers State since Ibas assumed office following the suspension of Governor Siminalayi Fubara.
Despite being in Abuja for the National Economic Council (NEC) meeting earlier in the day, Ibas did not attend the session. This marks the second time he has missed the meeting after the initial sitting—originally slated for April 17—was postponed at his own request.
Sources close to the committee revealed that no explanation was given for Ibas’s absence. It also remains unclear whether the administrator received or acknowledged a formal invitation to the rescheduled session, as the committee has not disclosed any correspondence or updates regarding the invitation process.
The atmosphere around the committee room was tense. Lawmakers were seen leaving Committee Room 301 at the House of Representatives Complex without comment. When approached by reporters, Rep. Ihonvbere declined to provide any insight, tersely stating, “No comment.”
As it stands, the meeting between the Ad-Hoc Committee and the Rivers administrator has been postponed indefinitely. The continued nonappearance of Ibas may fuel growing concerns about federal oversight of Rivers State, particularly in the wake of his unprecedented appointment as sole administrator—an arrangement that has stirred debate about democratic norms and state autonomy.
Observers say the House may be compelled to take a firmer stance if the administrator continues to ignore parliamentary invitations.
