Rivers State in Shock as Viral Video Suggests Resigned Ahoada East Sole Administrator Was Beaten into Stepping Down
Fresh controversy has gripped Rivers State following the sudden resignation of Hon. Goodluck Iheamnacho, who stepped down just two days ago from his role as Sole Administrator of Ahoada East Local Government Area. What was initially presented as a voluntary departure is now under intense scrutiny, after a disturbing video surfaced online showing Iheamnacho being physically assaulted and seemingly coerced into resigning.
In the now-viral footage, a visibly distressed Iheamnacho is seen being beaten and humiliated by a group of unidentified men. One of them is clearly heard shouting in Pidgin English: “Sign that thing immediately!”—a chilling indication that the resignation may have been forced under duress, not out of free will.
The initial resignation letter, dated June 20, 2025, had painted a far different picture. In it, Iheamnacho wrote to the State Sole Administrator, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (retd.), citing “personal reasons” and a desire to return to the private sector. “My decision is informed by my desire to return back to the private sector,” he stated in part. The letter also included words of appreciation to the Rivers State Government and the people of Ahoada East for the opportunity to serve from April 11 to June 20, 2025.
But with this new footage now in circulation, that narrative has come under serious question. The shocking images of a public official being violently pressured into resigning have raised serious concerns over the role of political intimidation and the state of law and order in Rivers State.
As of now, the Rivers State Government has yet to release an official statement on the matter, and the silence is only fueling public anxiety. Civil society groups and legal advocates are already calling for a full investigation to determine the circumstances surrounding Iheamnacho’s resignation—and to ensure that such acts of violence and coercion are not allowed to define public service in the state.
The incident has left many shaken, not just for its brutality but for what it suggests about the fragile nature of governance and accountability in local politics. As the state reels from this controversy, one thing is clear: the truth behind Iheamnacho’s resignation cannot be ignored.
