Gov Diri Urges INC to Suspend Planned Exco Inauguration Over Legal Dispute

The Governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Douye Diri, has called on the outgoing leadership of the Ijaw National Congress (INC) and its Electoral Committee to suspend the planned inauguration of a new executive scheduled for May 14, 2026.

In a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Daniel Alabrah, Governor Diri said his appeal followed ongoing legal disputes surrounding the recently conducted and contested election of a new leadership for the socio-cultural body.

Diri expressed concern over what he described as procedural irregularities and the use of his name and official title in advertisements for the inauguration ceremony without his consent, warning that such actions could create confusion within the Ijaw nation.

He stressed that the situation surrounding the INC leadership remained unresolved and is currently before the courts, urging stakeholders to allow due process to take its course rather than rushing into further decisions.

According to him, the priority at this stage should be unity and stability within the Ijaw ethnic nationality, rather than actions that could deepen existing divisions.

The governor, who served as the pioneer Organising Secretary of the INC, said he was not in support of any move that could “fractionalise” the organisation or cause disaffection among its members.

“At the moment, Ijaw leaders are working towards resolving the crisis that arose from the purported election of a new INC leadership. The matter is even still a subject of litigation. So why the hurry?” he stated.

He further advised the outgoing Prof. Benjamin Okaba-led executive committee to exercise restraint and allow ongoing dispute resolution processes to be completed before taking any further steps.

Governor Diri emphasized that the INC remains a key and respected voice of the Ijaw people, warning that its integrity must not be undermined by internal disagreements or hasty decisions.

He reiterated that his intervention was motivated by the need to preserve peace, unity, and harmony within the Ijaw nation, stressing that leaders must work collectively to prevent escalation of tensions within the organisation.