Diri to Consult Stakeholders on INC Reconciliation Report, Sees New Hope for Ijaw Unity

Bayelsa State Governor, , has pledged to study the recommendations of the Reconciliation Committee of the and engage stakeholders before taking steps to implement its proposals aimed at restoring unity within the apex Ijaw socio-cultural body.

Governor Diri gave the assurance on Friday while receiving the report of the eight-member committee at the Government House in Yenagoa.

The committee was inaugurated on May 26, 2026, following the disputed presidential election of the INC, with the mandate to reconcile aggrieved interests and recommend measures to restore harmony within the organisation.

Receiving the report, the governor expressed optimism that the committee’s recommendations would promote peace, stability and progress, while repositioning the Ijaw nation for greater relevance in Nigeria.

He commended the committee for completing its assignment within the one-month timeline, describing its members as individuals of proven integrity and exceptional pedigree.

According to Diri, the report goes beyond addressing divisions within the INC and provides a roadmap for rebuilding trust and strengthening the institution.

“The Congress is the highest institutional expression of the identity and historic aspirations of the Ijaw people. We cannot stand aloof while such a vital institution drifts without direction. The Congress and the people rise or fall together,” he said.

The governor noted that the committee had fulfilled its mandate with diligence and courage by providing what he described as “a pathway back to trust and collective purpose.”

Presenting the report, the committee’s chairman, , said members consulted all contestants in the disputed INC election, the electoral committee, the Congress’ executive members, various zonal representatives and other key stakeholders across the Ijaw nation.

Seiyefa said the consultations revealed a widespread desire for the survival, renewal and reinvigoration of the INC as the foremost platform for advancing the interests of the Ijaw people.

He explained that the committee’s recommendations were informed by stakeholders’ calls for a more inclusive, consultative and advocacy-driven Congress capable of addressing contemporary challenges facing the Ijaw nation.

According to him, a revitalised INC would strengthen its role as the collective voice of the Ijaw people while advancing their social, political and economic aspirations.