The decision of the National Executive Council, NEC, of the Ijaw National Congress, INC, to hold its rescheduled election in apparent disregard to the decision of the Council of Ijaw Traditional Rulers and Elders (CITRE) to suspend the electoral process has created a sense of concern and uncertainties.
The election into the executive positions of the INC was initially scheduled for March 7 but was put off following a court injunction, and was later rescheduled for Monday April 13.
CITRE in a meeting in Yenagoa on Thursday April 9, unanimously agreed to suspend the conduct of the INC elections and 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 Prof. Benjamin Okaba, in his reaction to the suspension insisted on going on with the rescheduled elections on Monday April 13.
Okaba describrd the decision of CITRE as “ill intended.”
Addressing newsmen in his office in Yenagoa on Sunday, the Chairman of CITRE, HRM, King Bubaraye Dakolo Agada IV, Ibenanaowei of Ekpetiama Kingdom, Chairman of Bayelsa Traditional Rulers Council, stated that any INC elections in Bayelsa will only amount to an exercise in futility, insisting on the guiding principles of the INC Constitution.
Dakolo explained that CITRE is empowered by the INC constitution to resolve electoral disputes and other disputes among all organs of the congress, describing the body as the “Supreme Court” of Ijaw nation.
“Article 14(d) of the Constitution of the Ijaw National Congress, INC,( 2019) zeros in on the functions of CITRE.and states what happens in respect to electoral process. It states that CITRE is to settle disputes arising from elections.
“Article 14 (f) said that CITRE shall settle disputes between members of congress, officers and organs of congress and the decision of CITRE shall be final in such disputes. So CITRE in Ijaw nation is as good as the Supreme Court and so the Supreme Court of Ijaw Nation met on April 9, and suspended the electoral process, and everyone ought to comply..
“So if any man goes to the Ijaw House tomorrow (Monday) , he will be violating and disrespecting the constitution of the Ijaw nation, disrespecting himself. You may wish to know that the election of March 7 was stopped by a court order and from that moment and even before that moment, it is CITRE’S duty to deal with the issues and resolve them.
“I have written to the Commissioner of Police to ensure that there is no gathering at Ijaw House in the name of INC elections tomorrow (Monday) or anywhere in Yenagoa..The constitution is explicit that CITRE decision is final.
“What we are saying here is that elections scheduled for April 13 is out of order and completely opposed to what the constitution stipulates..What is going on can best be described as an efforts in futility. I have spoken to each of the presidential candidates and I have asked them not to waste their money and time.”
“INC and Ijaw nation is a people of rules regarding and regulation that is why painstakingly this constitution was drafted and adopted seven years ago.” Dakolo said
In his reaction, the outgoing INC President, Okaba said: “I am the president and leader of Ijaw nation the national convention is the highest body and in that body we also have CITRE as a subset, zonal chairmen and all that, and when the convention holds I preside over the CITRE chairman, that is true, in fact meetings of CITRE are authorized by me, it is constitutional.
“You can see that what he is doing is ill intended and it is for the advancement of personal interest and it is being for both selfish and destructive purposes that is just the truth.”
