Ijaw monarchs, stakeholders declare INC elections invalid

The Council of Ijaw Traditional Rulers and Elders (CITRE) has declared the election into the executive positions of the Ijaw National Congress (INC), conducted on April 13 as null and void.

Chairman of CITRE and chairman, Bayelsa state Traditional Rulers Council, King Bubaraye Dakolo who is also the Ibenanaowei of Ekpetiama Kingdom made the declaration in a press conference at the secretariat of the Bayelsa state traditional rulers council in Yenagoa, the state capital.

Recall that the council had in a meeting in Yenagoa on Thursday April 9, unanimously suspended the conduct of the INC elections.

It directed the electoral committee to stop all forms of electoral duties forthwith and also set up a seven-man Dispute Resolution Committee (DRC) to investigate all petitions.

However, the outgoing INC President Professor Benjamin Okaba, went ahead to conduct the elections which produced High Chief Macdonald Igbadiwei as president elect.

Reacting, King Dakolo described the purported election as an effort in futility.

“As far as CITRE is concerned there was no elections on April 13 because the appointor had already instructed that everything be freezed and that is the position and if someone parades himself as President of INC that is his cup of coffee but I am thinking that that is not.a wise thing to do,” he said.

He noted that the seven-man Dispute Resolution Committee (DRC) will meet on Monday next week and try to resolve all pending issues before conducting a fresh free and credible all inclusive elections.

His words: “As far as CITRE is concerned there was no elections on April 13 because the appointor has already instructed that freeze everything and that is the position and if someone parades himself as President of INC that is his cup of coffee but I am thinking that that is not.a wise thing to do.

“I had already mentioned earlier that if anyone goes ahead to conduct the elections it will be an effort in futility.

“The Ijaw nation and INC owes CITRE that due respect in most other tribes bees would have been chasing them now, I believe that bees are chasing some of them already for going against the fathers of the land.

“CITRE is not about me, I am a king, there are other kings and eminent citizens of Ijaw nation that are part of CITRE and so CITRE has spoken.The governor is a member of CITRE.

“The seven man committee will have its inaugural meeting on Monday to commence work. 

“We shall respond to all the issues and make sure that a credible and popular election is held instead of what will bring about acrimony , divisions and factions.

“We will conduct elections that will bring about peace so that those who abstained before and all will participate according to the report of the committee.”