A Chief Magistrate in the Rivers State Judiciary, Ejike George, has resigned from his position, citing deep concerns over the current political climate and governance structure in the state. His resignation, formally communicated in a letter dated April 11, 2025, was addressed to the Honourable Chief Judge of Rivers State through the Secretary of the Rivers State Judicial Service Commission and titled Voluntary Retirement From Service.

In the letter, George, who has served 16 years as a magistrate and spent a total of 22 years in legal practice, expressed strong reservations about the recent appointment of a sole administrator to oversee the affairs of Rivers State.

He described the move as a deviation from democratic norms, likening it to a “quasi-military administration”, and asserted that such governance is alien and fundamentally at odds with the principles upheld by the legal profession.

“This difficult and regrettable decision is informed largely by my discomfort with the recent appointment of a quasi-military administration to run the affairs of a modern state like ours,” he wrote.

“Milord will agree with me that this type of governance system is not only alien but also runs antithetical to our hallowed profession as legal practitioners and adjudicators.”

Magistrate George further stated that remaining in his position under the current system would imply silent consent to a governance model he cannot support. He emphasised that his decision was driven by a commitment to the values of constitutional democracy and judicial independence.

His resignation adds a critical voice to the ongoing political tensions in Rivers State and raises broader concerns about the compatibility of recent administrative actions with democratic governance and the rule of law.