By Kabiru ABdulrauf
After a series of postponements, the House of Representatives ad hoc committee on Rivers State has finally held its long-awaited meeting with the state’s Sole Administrator, Retired Vice Admiral Ibok Ete Ibas. The closed-door session, which took place in Abuja, marks the first formal interaction between the federal legislative body and Ibas since his controversial appointment.
The House committee is acting under its constitutional mandate to assume the functions of the Rivers State House of Assembly, amid ongoing political tensions following the suspension of Governor Siminalayi Fubara by President Bola Tinubu in March 2025.
Vice Admiral Ibas, appointed to temporarily oversee the affairs of Rivers State, began the meeting by apologizing for missing earlier sessions, citing the need for more time to settle into his new role. “I am still getting my bearings in this position,” he said, while appealing for the committee’s understanding.
Following his opening remarks, journalists were asked to leave as the meeting transitioned into a closed-door session, which lasted approximately one hour. Upon its conclusion, Ibas departed without addressing the press.
The delayed meeting had initially been rescheduled to accommodate Ibas’s attendance at the National Economic Council (NEC) meeting held at the Presidential Villa last week, where he made his first appearance as Rivers State’s Sole Administrator.
As political uncertainty continues to hover over the state, the outcome of these interactions between federal lawmakers and Ibas could shape the trajectory of governance in Rivers State in the coming months.
