“Ijaw Elders Disown INC Election, Brand Declared Winner ‘Illegal’”
By Passman Akpos
YENAGOA, BAYELSA — A deepening crisis has engulfed the Ijaw National Congress (INC) after Ijaw elders formally disowned the April 13 presidential election, even as the electoral committee declared a winner in a process many now describe as illegitimate.
Chairman of the National Conference of Ijaw Traditional Rulers and Elders, Bubaraye Dakolo, stated unequivocally that no valid election took place, insisting the exercise violated established procedures and ignored a prior directive to suspend the poll.
Speaking at a press conference in Yenagoa, Dakolo—who also heads the Bayelsa State Traditional Rulers Council—revealed that key stakeholders had agreed to halt the election to prevent escalating tensions.
“There were issues that required resolution. Proceeding with the election would have heightened tensions. It was agreed that no election should be held,” he said.
Despite this, some individuals allegedly went ahead with the process, an action Dakolo described as “unconstitutional and invalid.”
Shock Declaration Sparks Outrage
In a dramatic twist, the INC Electoral Committee announced results of the controversial poll, declaring High Chief Macdonald Igbadiwei as winner with 317 votes, defeating other contenders including Prof. Franklin Osaisai and Engr. Ebipamowei Wodu.
The announcement has triggered widespread backlash across Ijaw communities, with many questioning the legitimacy of both the process and its outcome.
“Who Authorized This Election?”
The controversy stems from an earlier directive issued after an April 9 stakeholders’ meeting in Yenagoa, where N-CITRE ordered an indefinite suspension of the election due to unresolved disputes and legal concerns.
That directive, endorsed by Dakolo, explicitly instructed the electoral committee to halt all activities—raising a critical question now dominating public discourse:
Who authorized the election that produced these results?
Rising Tensions, Calls for Calm
Observers warn that the situation risks fracturing unity within the Ijaw nation if not urgently addressed. While some supporters of the declared winner insist the process was valid, a growing number of stakeholders have dismissed the results as a “power grab” and “charade.”
Dakolo emphasized that N-CITRE’s intervention is backed by the INC constitution, noting that a reconciliation committee will soon begin sittings to resolve grievances and pave the way for a credible election.
Uncertain Path Forward
With elders rejecting the outcome and factions emerging, the legitimacy battle within the INC appears far from over. The coming days are expected to test the strength of traditional authority, constitutional order, and unity within one of Nigeria’s most influential ethnic organizations.
As tensions simmer, many are now watching closely to see whether dialogue—or deeper division—will define the next chapter of the INC leadership crisis.
