JUST IN: Court of Appeal Dismisses Iyanga’s Case, Upholds Igbadiwei’s Victory as INC President

By Monday Peters, Abuja

The legal battle for the soul of the Ijaw National Congress has ended.
The Court of Appeal sitting in Port Harcourt affirmed McDonald Igbadiwei as INC President and dismissed the suit filed by retired Rear Admiral Geoffrey Iyanga.[date]

Iyanga had approached the court to challenge the process that produced the current INC National Executive Council, faulting the electoral committee and raising issues of eligibility.

But the appellate court ruled in favor of Igbadiwei, agreeing with submissions by M.J. Numa, SAN, and Ebibenabo Okorodas that the Yenagoa High Court erred by not first deciding on jurisdiction.

The court held that once jurisdiction is challenged, it must be resolved before proceeding with any other matter. Consequently, it dismissed Iyanga’s case.

The judgment further legitimized the April 10, 2026 INC election at Ijaw House, Yenagoa, conducted by the Francis Tabai-led electoral committee, confirming Igbadiwei as the duly elected president of the foremost Ijaw organization