INC Inauguration Deepens Crisis as Igbadiwei Sworn In Amid Court Orders, Diri’s Appeal

The leadership crisis rocking the Ijaw National Congress deepened on Thursday as the inauguration of the newly elected executive led by Macdonald Ebi Igbadiwei went ahead in Warri, Delta State, amid conflicting court orders, protests by aggrieved stakeholders and growing divisions within the Ijaw nation.

The intrigue surrounding the emergence of Igbadiwei began after the April 13 election that produced him as president of the apex Ijaw socio-cultural organisation.

While supporters of the process described the election as free and credible, opponents including the Conference of Ijaw Traditional Rulers and Elders, rejected the outcome and declared the exercise null and void over alleged constitutional breaches and electoral irregularities.

Tension heightened last week after a Rivers State High Court sitting in Port Harcourt reportedly issued an interim order restraining the swearing-in of officers elected during the disputed poll pending the determination of a suit filed by aggrieved parties.

However, another court order was said to have cleared the way for the inauguration, creating legal confusion over whether the ceremony should proceed.

Amid the controversy, Bayelsa State Governor, Douye Diri, on Friday, May 8, appealed to the outgoing executive led by Benjamin Okaba and the electoral committee to shelve the inauguration in the interest of peace and unity within the Ijaw nation.

Diri noted that the matter remained a subject of litigation and warned against actions capable of deepening divisions within the organisation.

Despite the governor’s appeal and mounting opposition, the inauguration proceeded in Warri with the attendance of several prominent dignitaries, political leaders and traditional rulers from parts of the Niger Delta.

Among those present were High Chief Government Ekpemupolo, popularly known as Tompolo, and Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme.

The colourful event also attracted some respected Ijaw monarchs and traditional rulers who openly rallied behind the new leadership.

However, the absence of a notable bloc of Bayelsa-based Ijaw monarchs fuelled speculations over lingering discontent and the deepening cracks within the ethnic nationality’s foremost pressure group.

In his inaugural speech, Igbadiwei pledged to pursue the creation of Toru-Ebe and Oil Rivers states, push for resource control, advocate the expansion of local government areas in Bayelsa State and ensure the enforcement of the Supreme Court judgment on Warri ward delineation.