As the outgoing leadership of Ijaw National Congress (INC) concluded its election with MacDonald Igbadiwei emerging as the new President amid controversy, a body known as Ijaw Women Rights Group, has called on all to tread with caution.
According to a statement issued on Monday and signed by Dr Timiebi Koripamo-Agary, OON, all relevant stakeholders involved in the current leadership tussle would have listened to the voice of reasoning and toed the line of peace and reconciliation rather than taking the law into their hands.
Recall that before the just concluded election, the Council of Ijaw Traditional Rulers and Elders (CITRE) had advised all to suspend the election and wait for the outcome of a committee it set up after receiving loads of petitions from different stakeholders concerning some anomalies noticed.
Also, not being satisfied with the rescheduled date, which was on the 13th of April, 2026, Timi Ogoriba, Nengi James and Rear Admiral Geoffrey Yanga had announced that they were going to boycott the election, which they actually did, noting that they would wait for the outcome of a Committee set up by CITRE
According to the letter sighted by New Telegraph, they all agreed that there was a need to give CITRE a chance to do their due diligence on loads of petitions brought before it.
During a Press Briefing by CITRE on Sunday, the chairman of the body, HRM, King Bubaraye Dakolo Agada IV, Ibenanaowei of Ekpetiama Kingdom, had disclosed that the election will be illegal if conducted.
King Dakolo had disclosed that their mandate, according to INC’s Constitution, is to resolve all pending petitions and misunderstandings before an election of INC will be conducted, maintaining that the current President in the person of Professor Benjamin Okaba, was taking laws into his hands.
However, Professor Benjamin Okaba, the outgoing President in defence, said that he has a court order compelling him to conduct the election, adding that “I just got a court order compelling me to conduct this election. Let me say it again. I have this Order of the Courts.
“You can see the signatures and all that, placing an order on me as President of the National Congress to conduct this election without any interference by anybody.
But the Ijaw Women Rights Group, not being comfortable with the people that conducted the just concluded election without regard to the advice of CETRI, called on all to tread with caution.
The statement reads: “Recent public reactions describing the current situation within the Ijaw nation as a setback reflect a deep and growing concern among our people. These voices must not be ignored or dismissed. They represent the conscience of a people committed to justice, order, and collective dignity.
“The strength of the Ijaw nation has always rested on unity, respect for due process, and strict adherence to our constitutional and institutional frameworks.
“All stakeholders: political leaders, traditional rulers, business leaders, youth constituencies, women leaders, and community voices, bear a collective responsibility to safeguard the integrity and credibility of the Ijaw National Congress (INC) as the umbrella socio-cultural body of the Ijaw people.
“While efforts and appeals were made in good faith to encourage dialogue and adherence to due process, the discredited executive leadership of the INC has gone ahead with elections regardless. This development is deeply regrettable, unacceptable, and profoundly insulting to the collective sensibilities of the Ijaw people.
“Constructive engagement, transparency, and accountability the group said “must remain the guiding principles for any legitimate process moving forward. When disagreements are handled outside established constitutional procedures, the result is the erosion of public trust and the weakening of our collective voice.
“However, it is necessary to speak plainly and truthfully: what we are witnessing is no longer a mere “setback.” It is a dangerous drift; one that reflects not only internal institutional failings but also clear and troubling signs of external interference aimed at weakening, dividing, and destabilising the Ijaw nation.
“We must not be naïve. History has repeatedly shown that divided communities are easier to manipulate, silence, and exploit. The current trajectory bears worrying indicators of coordinated interests: seen and unseen that do not wish the Ijaw nation to remain united, strong, and assertive in the pursuit of its legitimate aspirations.
“At this critical moment, the question of leadership becomes unavoidable. Where are our leaders when the very soul of our collective institution is under strain? Silence in the face of institutional breakdown is not neutrality. It risks being interpreted as complicity.
“We must be clear: unity without justice is fragile. Unity without accountability is hollow. And unity without vigilance is dangerous. As Ijaw women, we state unequivocally that we will not be silent. Throughout history, women have stood as stabilisers, truth-tellers, and defenders of the conscience of our people. This moment is no different.
The group therefore called for a renewed dialogue. “We therefore call for renewed dialogue, anchored on truth, fairness, transparency, and strict adherence to due process. This dialogue must also be informed by a clear awareness of internal weaknesses and external forces seeking to undermine our unity.
“We demand transparency.
We demand accountability.
We demand responsible leadership.
The dignity, security, and future of the Ijaw nation are not negotiable.
“In conclusion, a critical question now confronts us all, boldly and without fear of consequence: if leadership fails to act decisively to correct internal breakdowns and resist external interference, then what remains of our collective moral authority and unity?
“History has shown that when institutions fail, and people are consistently pushed beyond acceptable limits, they inevitably seek new paths of collective assertion. However, our foremost commitment must remain peace, justice, and the preservation of the Ijaw nation through lawful and principled means.” The group concluded.
