Ijaw women condemn ‘sham election’ in INC, demand unity, accountability

From Juliana Taiwo-Obalonye, Abuja

Ijaw women from across communities, states, and the diaspora in solidarity have risen against what they describe as a “sham election” within the Ijaw National Congress (INC), accusing its leadership of betraying the group’s dignity and unity.

The controversy traced back to March 2026, when a Rivers State High Court in Port Harcourt halted the INC’s national election originally set for March 7. High Chief Macdonald Igbadiwei, a frontline presidential aspirant, secured an interim injunction against Prof. Benjamin Okaba’s leadership and Electoral Committee Chairman Justice F. F. Tabai (JSC Rtd), alleging unfair disqualification despite meeting all constitutional requirements, including submitting nomination forms backed by 30 members.

Despite the court order and subsequent suspension of elections by the Conference of Ijaw Traditional Rulers and Elders (CITRE) on April 10, reports indicate the INC proceeded with a vote on April 13, resulting in Igbadiwei’s emergence as president-elect amid drama and security tensions.

The women, led by former permanent secretary Ministry of Labour and Productivity and Ministry of Information and Culture, Timiebi Koripamo-Agary, of the Ijaw Women Right Group, issued the declaration titled “IJAW WOMEN RISE: A CALL TO CONSCIENCE AND COLLECTIVE ACTION.” They expressed “heavy hearts but unshaken resolve” over events from “yesterday,” which they labeled a painful betrayal imposed “in defiance of dialogue, due process, and respected authority.”

At the center of their outrage is the INC’s current leadership under Prof. Benjamin Okaba and the Electoral Committee Chairman, Justice F. F. Tabai (JSC Rtd). The group claims these figures have “deviated from the values that once commanded respect,” intensifying divisions and eroding trust among Ijaw people.

“This is not the legacy we will pass on to our children,” the statement reads, urging all Ijaw women to “rise in unity” and reject silence in favor of truth, justice, and collective action.

The women also appealed to political, traditional, business, religious leaders, and youth groups to intervene decisively for restoration of integrity and credibility. They commended HRM King Bubaraye Dakolo, Chairman of the Conference of Ijaw Traditional Rulers and Elders (CITRE), for his “courage and steadfast commitment” to what is right.

As custodians of heritage, the signatories vowed not to stand idly by as their collective future is threatened, emphasizing accountability, peace, and justice. “The time to restore the Ijaw Nation is now. May God guide us all,” the statement concluded.