The Niger Delta Peoples Assembly has reacted to a press release issued by the Chief Press Secretary to Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, concerning the planned inauguration of newly elected members of the Ijaw National Congress (INC) National Executive Council following the April 13, 2026 election.
In a statement, the group acknowledged Governor Diri’s contributions toward supporting and revitalizing the apex Ijaw socio-cultural organization. However, it expressed strong disagreement with the governor’s description of the recently concluded INC election as “purported.”
The Assembly stated that the election, conducted on April 13, 2026, under the supervision of a retired Justice of the Supreme Court, was free, fair, and credible. According to the group, many of its members participated in the process as delegates and accredited observers and witnessed a transparent exercise.
The organization further noted that several prominent bodies and stakeholders had already endorsed the credibility of the election. Among those listed were the INC Board of Trustees, the Western Zone Traditional Rulers Council, the Supreme Egbesu Council, and the Central Zone INC Clan Forum.
The statement also recalled a stakeholders’ meeting convened at the Government House in Yenagoa on March 13, 2026, at the instance of Governor Diri and presided over by the Deputy Governor of Bayelsa State. During that meeting, according to the Assembly, aggrieved aspirants agreed publicly to withdraw pending court cases in order to allow the electoral committee to conduct the election without legal obstacles.
The group argued that it was based on the understanding reached at that meeting that the election was successfully conducted and winners emerged through what it described as a democratic process.
The Assembly questioned why the election was now being referred to as “purported,” suggesting that the position may have arisen because some candidates allegedly supported by influential interests failed to win their contests.
It also alleged that some aspirants who withdrew from the race through social media announcements before the election later approached the courts with what it described as frivolous claims after assessing their slim chances of victory.
According to the group, the electoral committee is made up of responsible individuals who would comply with any legitimate court order directing that the inauguration should not proceed. However, it maintained that no such development should undermine the credibility of the electoral process itself.
The Niger Delta Peoples Assembly emphasized that while Governor Diri remains a major stakeholder in the INC, being a former organizing secretary of the body and the sitting governor of Bayelsa State, such status does not grant him powers beyond those provided in the INC constitution.
The organization stressed that the INC remains an independent socio-cultural organization representing the Ijaw ethnic nationality and should be protected from what it described as excessive external influence.
The Assembly called on the outgoing leadership of Professor Benjamin Okaba and the electoral committee to engage in wider consultations across the Ijaw nation before taking further decisions regarding the inauguration of the new executive council.
It advised the leadership to carefully consider all available options and their implications in order to avoid another constitutional crisis or leadership deadlock within the organization.
The statement further noted that the tenure of Professor Okaba’s administration is expected to expire by midnight on May 13, 2026, making it necessary for stakeholders to act in a manner that preserves stability and unity within the INC.
The Niger Delta Peoples Assembly concluded its statement with a call for the protection of democratic principles within the organization and expressed hope for peace and unity across the Ijaw nation.
