Bayelsa: Uneasy calm over INC elections as Ijaw monarchs, NEC bicker

CP gets briefing on INC constitution

From Femi Folaranmi, Yenagoa

There is palpable tension in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital, and, by extension, the Ijaw nation, following the controversy that has trailed the election into executive positions of the apex organisation of the Ijaw nation, the Ijaw National Congress (INC).

The INC has been thrown into crisis after several aggrieved individuals petitioned the National Executive Council (NEC) and the Electoral Committee, urging that the election scheduled for April 13 be halted.

The Council of Ijaw Traditional Rulers and Elders (CITRE), headed by HRM King Bubaraye Dakolo Agada IV, Ibenanaowei of Ekpetiama Kingdom and Chairman of the Bayelsa Traditional Rulers Council, intervened by suspending further action on the election and directing the Electoral Committee to stand down its conduct.

The intervention of CITRE has been rebuffed by the NEC, headed by Prof Benjamin Okaba, and the Electoral Committee, headed by retired Justice Francis Tabai, both of which insist that the election will proceed as scheduled.

However, King Dakolo, in a press briefing on Sunday at the Council of Traditional Rulers Secretariat, Yenagoa, stated that CITRE, as the Supreme Court of the INC, in line with its constitution, decided to suspend the election to enable it to resolve all pending issues.

The monarch stated that it is troubling that there are moves to proceed with the election despite CITRE’s intervention aimed at reconciling all aggrieved parties.

According to him, there have been several constitutional breaches, including the alleged compromise of the independence of the Electoral Committee by the Okaba-led NEC, leading to the election impasse, which he said does not portray the Ijaw nation positively.

King Dakolo, while noting that all parties to the election have been briefed, disclosed that any gathering at Ijaw House on Monday, April 13, would be illegal.

He said, as Chairman of CITRE, he would not be involved in any illegality and had written to the Commissioner of Police, Bayelsa State, to ensure that there is no gathering in the name of the election.

“I have written to the Commissioner of Police to brief him about the INC Constitution and the Constitutional role of CITRE. The election slated for April 13 is completely out of order. As it is not following the Constitution. I have already written to the Commissioner of Police to ensure there is no gathering in the name of the election. Anything done not in line with the constitution will be null and void. No right-thinking Ijaw man will participate in any election on April 13.”

However, in a swift reaction, Okaba insisted that the election would go ahead as planned on April 13.

Okaba, who acknowledged a role for CITRE in the INC constitution, was quick to state that its role is only advisory.