History was recorded on Tuesday, April 13, 2026, at the Ijaw House in Yenagoa, as His Royalty, Dr. Anyanate Kio, Opuda Atabilaye Dia III, emerged as the new National Secretary of the Ijaw National Congress (INC) worldwide.
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Dr. Kio’s victory followed an extensive campaign across Ijaw territories, marked by wide consultations and grassroots engagement, culminating in a peaceful and transparent electoral process.
Speaking to journalists shortly after the announcement of results, the newly elected National Secretary described his emergence as a testament to purposeful leadership and the trust reposed in him by the Ijaw people.
“My emergence from the foundation to this position is an eloquent testimony that good leadership pays. When you serve your people with integrity, honesty, and transparency, they will always call you to higher responsibility,” he said.
Dr. Kio noted that his leadership experience as head of the National Representative Council played a significant role in his elevation to the INC’s National Executive Council.
“It is the mandate and trust bestowed upon me that has catapulted me to this victory. I rededicate this victory to the Ijaw people—it is a victory for the Ijaw nation, for emancipation, and for the renewed struggle for resource control,” he added.
The new INC scribe emphasized the need to reposition the Ijaw struggle, stating that the organization would broaden its advocacy beyond oil-related issues to encompass wider developmental concerns affecting the people.
“We are going to recalibrate our mindset to ensure the essence of the Ijaw struggle is sustained at a higher level. I will work assiduously with the President and members of the Executive Council to ensure the INC speaks on issues that benefit the Ijaw nation holistically,” he stated.
Highlighting international engagement, Dr. Kio referenced the INC’s growing global presence through its registration with the Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organisation (UNPO) in The Hague, Netherlands.
“We are not just focused locally; we will ensure our impact is felt both within and outside the Ijaw nation,” he said.
On the conduct of the election, Dr. Kio commended the adoption of electronic voting, describing it as a game-changer that has eliminated post-election disputes within the organization.
“This is the second time the INC has used electronic voting, and it has effectively eliminated legal tussles. The process is seamless and credible. If the INC can achieve this, then the Nigerian state can learn from it to strengthen its electoral system,” he noted.
The election was widely regarded as peaceful, credible, and successfully conducted, further reinforcing confidence in the INC’s internal democratic processes.
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