The President of the Ijaw National Congress (INC), Professor Benjamin Okaba, has dismissed reports suggesting that some aspirants who were previously disqualified have been recalled and cleared to participate in the forthcoming national election of the organization.
Okaba stated that he is not aware of any decision reversing the earlier disqualification of certain aspirants. He said the reports circulating in some quarters claiming that the affected aspirants had been reinstated were not known to him.
According to the INC president, he was earlier briefed that the aspirants in question were disqualified strictly in line with the provisions of the organization’s constitution. He stressed that the decision was based on constitutional guidelines governing eligibility for candidates seeking to contest positions in the national election.
Okaba questioned the basis for the reports claiming that the aspirants had now been cleared, asking whether there had been any sudden change in the constitutional provisions within the last few days.
“I am not aware that the certain aspirants that were disqualified have been recalled,” Okaba said while reacting to the claims.
He explained that the information previously made available to him indicated that the screening committee had acted according to the rules of the INC constitution when it disqualified the affected individuals.
The INC president raised concerns over what could have led to the alleged reversal of the decision, emphasizing that constitutional provisions guiding the organization cannot be changed arbitrarily.
“In the briefing I received, those aspirants were disqualified based on the constitution,” Okaba said.
He further questioned whether the constitution had been amended within a short period to allow the previously disqualified aspirants to return to the race.
“So what changed? Or in the past two days, has the constitution been amended?” he asked.
Okaba’s remarks come amid growing discussions within the INC community regarding preparations for the organization’s upcoming national elections. The elections are expected to determine the next set of leaders that will guide the affairs of the group.
The Ijaw National Congress is a prominent socio-cultural organization representing the interests of the Ijaw people across the Niger Delta and beyond. Its leadership elections often attract significant attention from stakeholders within the region.
Although reports had emerged suggesting that some aspirants who were earlier screened out had been reconsidered and allowed back into the contest, Okaba maintained that he had not received any official communication confirming such a development.
He reiterated that any decision affecting the eligibility of aspirants must follow due process and must be consistent with the constitution of the organization.
Okaba emphasized the importance of transparency and adherence to established rules in the conduct of the INC national election, noting that the credibility of the process depends on strict compliance with constitutional provisions.
He also indicated that if any such decision had been taken regarding the reinstatement of disqualified aspirants, it should be properly communicated to the leadership and stakeholders of the organization.
As preparations continue for the national election, members of the INC are expected to closely monitor developments surrounding the screening process and the final list of eligible aspirants.
The controversy surrounding the alleged recall of disqualified aspirants highlights the importance of clarity and proper communication in the electoral process within the organization. Okaba’s response suggests that, as of now, there has been no official confirmation from his office regarding any reversal of the earlier disqualification decisions.
