Fresh controversy has erupted within the Ijaw National Congress (INC) as concerned stakeholders openly rejected Governor Douye Diri’s call to suspend the planned inauguration of the newly elected executive committee, insisting that the democratic process that produced the new leadership remains valid and binding.
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In a strongly worded press statement released on Thursday, the stakeholders said that while they respect Governor Diri’s position as a prominent leader and stakeholder in the Ijaw nation, his recent directive asking the outgoing executive under Prof. Benjamin Okaba to halt the May 14, 2026 inauguration was merely a personal opinion and does not invalidate the outcome of the April 13 election.
According to them, the election that produced the new INC leadership followed established constitutional procedures under the supervision of the duly constituted Electoral Committee, with delegates from various Ijaw clans and kingdoms actively participating.
They argued that describing the election as “purported” was misleading, maintaining that the exercise was transparent, participatory, and reflective of the collective will of the Ijaw people.
“The outcome reflected the collective will of the Ijaw people. It is therefore misleading to describe the election as purported when the process was open, participatory, and widely acknowledged by stakeholders across the Ijaw nation,” the statement read.
The stakeholders also dismissed concerns over the ongoing litigation surrounding the election, stressing that the existence of a court case does not automatically invalidate the process or stop the inauguration unless there is a clear restraining order from a competent court.
“As of today, no competent court of law has issued any injunction stopping the swearing-in ceremony of the new INC executive,” they stated.
They further clarified that Governor Diri’s name was included in the inauguration programme solely in recognition of his status as a prominent son of the Ijaw nation and former pioneer Organising Secretary of the INC, and not as an attempt to misrepresent his position.
The group warned that any move to frustrate or delay the inauguration of the duly elected leadership could worsen tensions and create avoidable divisions among Ijaw people.
They called on elders, youths, leaders, and stakeholders across the Niger Delta to support a peaceful inauguration process while continuing lawful efforts toward reconciliation and unity.
“The Ijaw nation must remain committed to democracy, constitutionalism, and respect for the will of its people,” the statement concluded.
The latest development comes barely hours after Governor Diri publicly warned against proceeding with the inauguration, stating that such a move could deepen divisions within the INC and weaken the unity of the Ijaw nation.
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