Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has described the appointment of Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas as Sole Administrator of Rivers State as unconstitutional, warning that allowing him to oversee local government elections could have far-reaching implications for the country’s democracy.
Atiku’s remarks came in response to concerns raised by elder statesman Atedo Peterside, who cautioned the Federal Government against undermining Nigeria’s democratic process through the planned council polls in Rivers State.
Condemning the development in a post on X, Atiku likened the situation to “helping put out the fire in a neighbour’s house to prevent your own from burning,” stressing that the practice of appointing sole administrators for elections is alien to the constitution.
He warned that permitting an “illegal sole administrator” to conduct local government elections in Rivers State would set a dangerous precedent for other parts of the country.
“I join other men and women of goodwill to condemn this absurdity unequivocally,” Atiku declared.
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