Calabar Man Takes Charge in Port Harcourt: APC’s Joe Igbokwe

Joe Igbokwe Reports: Calabar Leader Assumes Port Harcourt Role

​On March 20, 2025, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (Rtd) assumed office as the sole administrator of Rivers State, following the declaration of a state of emergency by President Bola Tinubu. This appointment came amid escalating tensions between Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his predecessor, Nyesom Wike.​

Reacting to this development, All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain Joe Igbokwe commented on the situation, stating:​

“When two siblings fought themselves to death, a stranger would take over their inheritance. A Calabar man has taken over in PH.” ​

Igbokwe’s remark underscores the consequences of internal political conflicts leading to external intervention in the state’s administration.​

Vice Admiral Ibas, hailing from Calabar, Cross River State, brings a wealth of experience from his tenure as Chief of Naval Staff. His appointment aims to stabilize the political climate in Rivers State during this period of emergency rule.

The political rift between Governor Fubara and former Governor Wike has raised concerns about governance and stability in the state, prompting federal intervention to restore order and ensure the continuity of administrative functions.