Ijaw interest groups cautions INC against Swearing-In Ceremony in breach of court order

The Coalition of Ijaw Interest Groups (CIIG) on Wednesday urged the Ijaw National Council (INC) to obey subsisting court orders in respect of elections of its executives.

A Rivers High Court had restrained the INC from inaugurating executives from a disputed election conducted on April 13.

Gov Douye Diri of Bayelsa had also dissociated himself from the May 14 inauguration and berated the organisers for dropping his name as special guests when the election was conducted in violation of INC procedures and court order.

The group warned against unconstitutional and illegal attempt’ to inaugurate a new leadership for the INC following the disputed April 13, 2026 election process.

In a statement issued on Wednesday in Yenagoa, the coalition said any swearing-in ceremony conducted in defiance of court orders, constitutional provisions and pending petitions by presidential candidates would amount to “a direct assault on the integrity, unity, and legitimacy” of the apex Ijaw socio-cultural body.

The group stated that the crisis within the INC had evolved into “a profound constitutional, moral, and institutional emergency threatening the soul and future credibility of the organization.”

CIIG explained that the INC was established to protect the collective political, cultural and socio-economic interests of the Ijaw people and not for “zonal domination, personal ambition, or political patronage.”

The coalition accused the outgoing INC leadership under Prof. Benjamin Okaba of undermining the organization’s constitutional foundations through alleged disregard for court orders, stakeholder interventions and dispute resolution mechanisms. 

The coalition specifically referenced the April 10 resolution of the National Conference of Ijaw Traditional Rulers and Elders (N-CITRE), which suspended all electoral activities, alleging that the directive was ignored by the INC leadership and the electoral committee.

The coalition also alleged that interventions by Douye Diri and other Ijaw elders urging the suspension of the election pending the resolution of disputes were disregarded.

According to the statement, attempts to associate respected public officials with the proposed inauguration ceremony without authorization suggested “a desperate attempt” to extend tenure through the “back door.” 

CIIG further expressed concern that most of those allegedly involved in the crisis were from the western zone of the Ijaw nation, the same zone as Okaba.

The coalition warned that any leadership emerging from the disputed process would lack the moral and constitutional legitimacy to represent the Ijaw people. 

It called on N-CITRE, traditional rulers, youth and women groups, civil society organizations and stakeholders across all Ijaw zones to intervene to preserve peace, unity and constitutional order within the INC.

CIIG also cautioned that the unresolved crisis could lead to the emergence of an alternative body to represent the interests of the Ijaw people if the situation persists.

The statement was signed by several stakeholders, including Ben Okoro Efiye Bribena, Chief Denzil Kentebe, Iniruo Wills, Elaye Otrofanowei, Pattison Boleigha, Annkio Briggs, Rosemary John-Oduone, Ebitimi Egbunukumoh and Yimovie Sakue-Collins.