CAN we know you for the purpose of this interview?
My name is honorable Innocent Ajaelu, the Rivers South east Senatorial Zone’s Youth Leader of All Progressive Congress (APC).
Are you satisfied with the action of the Rivers State Sole Administrator, Ibok-Ete Ibas in conducting local government election in the state this Saturday, 30th July 2025?
Yes, I am satisfied with the actions of the Sole Administration of Rivers State conducting the local government election, because everything he has done concerning this upcoming election has been legitimatized by the National Assembly, he is just here to implement what the National Assembly has said.
So, I don’t know how we would look at it because whatever he has proposed was giving legitimacy by the National Assembly, if that is the case, going by the fact that we are running a democratic setting, and if the Senate has approved something for him under the emergency rule, I think it stands and it is legal and above all we should understand that when there is emergency rule so to say, so many parts of the Constitution are suspended as a result of the circumstances and you don’t expect the full implementation of the Constitution of Nigeria in these circumstances we find ourselves now as per emergency rule.
I was made to understand that there are some sections of the Constitution that are being suspended as a result of the emergency rule, so all the things he is doing I think is being guided by law and if that is the case I am happy with what he is doing.
Don’t you think that opposition parties and other stakeholders in the state can drag the Sole Administrator to court over the election?
Of course, it is the right of any citizen of the state that feels dissatisfied to any giving actions or inactions of the Sole Administrator to go to court to seek redress and I think the court has the wisdom or the right to adjudicate to and say this is right and this is wrong, so it is their right if they want to go to court they should go.
Because I know some people are feeling that these circumstances we find ourselves which I know is the first of its kind in Nigeria, so if you want to go to court, it beholds on the court to interpret it so that it could serve as a point of reference in case it happens to another person, so they have the right to go to court. No body stops any one from going to court for any reason.
What is your take in all these as the youth leader of your party, All Progressive Congress (APC)?
My take is first, the people of Rivers State should come out en-mass and participate in the upcoming election to support the Sole Administrator, let Rivers people give him the support he needs.
I have said it before and will continue to say it, emergency rule is not the end of Rivers State and Rivers State is not the first state that emergency rule has been proclaimed, states like Plateau State and other states I could not quickly remember for now have been in this situation before and when they came out they came out strong, so, all am saying is that emergency rule in Rivers State is not the end of Rivers State and we will come out very strong and united ever than we were before. So, let’s give the Sole Administrator the needed support and move Rivers State forward.
