BREAKING: Igbadiwei Declares President Of Ijaw National Congress

By Joseph Bienbo, Yenagoa

Following the Ijaw National Congress INC national elections held today in Ijaw House, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, the INC-NEC has declared Chief MacDonald Igbadiwei Esq, the President of the Ijaw National Congress (INC).

The declaration of Igbadiwei as President comes after a period of tension and disputes within the INC. The Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, had intervened, facilitating a meeting with stakeholders to resolve the issues.

The election was kindly contested by six presidential candidates from the various zones and clans. All clans were dully accredited and voted. A total of 685 delegates were accredited to vote at the election. However, Chief Igbadiwei won with 317 votes.

It was recalled that the Rivers State High Court in Port Harcourt had earlier halted the INC national election scheduled for March 7, 2026, due to a suit filed by Chief Igbadiwei, over exclusion from contesting for the position of National President.

Igbadiwei, a lawyer and member of the INC through the Gbaran Clan in Bayelsa State’s Central Zone, claimed he met all constitutional requirements to contest for the position. The court earlier granted an interim order restraining the INC and its electoral committee from conducting the poll pending the resolution of the dispute.

The INC is a representative body formed in 1991, with members elected from various constituent clans speaking dialects of the Ijaw language. The organization has zonal, clan, chapter, and community executives piloting its affairs at different levels.