By Jane Maduadugwo and Nzeuzor Jane, Port Harcourt.
The recent assault on the Sole Administrator of Ahoada East Local Government Area has ignited serious concerns over the deteriorating state of governance in Rivers State. The incident, widely described as politically motivated, has drawn widespread criticism and intensified calls for the restoration of democratic structures at the local government level.
According to public affairs analyst Ijeoma Peter, what happened in Ahoada East may be a prelude to more unrest across the 23 Local Government Areas (LGAs) in the state. Mr. Peter told our reporters that the chaos is a direct result of “overbearing political interference” by those who nominated the sole administrators currently running the councils under a state of emergency.
“People from these LGAs are crying out that nothing is being done,” he said. “They’ve lost faith in the system and are calling for the removal and replacement of some of these sole administrators. They are even comparing their performance with that of the elected chairmen who served briefly before they were removed by the Supreme Court. Within just three months, those chairmen were at least seen to be working.”
Mr. Peter also commented on the reported assault on the administrator of Ahoada West, attributing it to a fallout with political godfathers.
“These political leaders have practically turned the LGAs into personal estates. They hide under the guise of emergency rule to impose their loyalists, individuals who are accountable to them, not the people,” he said. “Now, ironically, these same factions are demanding accountability from the administrators they appointed. It is greed, not governance, that is motivating these demands.”
In his words, “They are not demanding good governance. They are demanding that these administrators ‘share the money’. That’s their focus—eating the local government allocation, not serving the people.”
Supporting this view, Professor Oruru Robinson, a Development Economist, told our reporters that the situation reflects a broader pattern of mismanagement and corruption.
“What happened in Ahoada East is just a sample of the rot happening in other LGAs. After salaries are paid, the rest of the funds are shared among political players. That’s the cost of bad governance in Rivers State today,” Professor Robinson said.
He argued that the only way out is the reinstatement of full democratic structures at the state and local government levels.
“We need our executive and legislative arms back—not for the politicians, but for the six million citizens of Rivers State. The situation has moved beyond politics; it is about development and public accountability,” he said.
Legal expert Mr. Obadiah Charles echoed these concerns, insisting that without functioning democratic institutions, governance remains crippled.
“True accountability cannot exist in a vacuum. You need a legislature to check the executive, and councilors to oversee the activities at the local government level,” he said. “Without these structures, it becomes a one-man show—everyone scrambling for a piece of the so-called national cake.”
Mr. Obadiah further highlighted the need for a strong political culture and ideology that shapes leaders’ conduct.
“The absence of a clear political ideology is what makes our democracy unstable. Until we develop guiding principles for our politics, this cycle of power grabs and impunity will continue.”
Recall that recently the Sole Administrator of Ahoada East was attacked in his office. Reports indicate that a group led by the local government’s Chief Security Officer and Chief of Staff stormed the secretariat, physically assaulted the administrator, and coerced him into signing a resignation letter. Official and personal documents were also allegedly carted away.
The incident has shocked many and is being interpreted as a sign of growing factionalism and desperation within the political class. Observers fear that if urgent action is not taken to restore democratic governance, more local governments in Rivers State may descend into similar chaos.
