INC crisis deepens: ‘No CITRE, no NEC,’ Ogoriba declares

...says April 13 poll illegal, labels exercise a charade

...urges Ijaw leaders to await elders’ committee report

Fresh controversy continues to trail the recent leadership election of the Ijaw National Congress (INC), as frontline presidential aspirant, Elder Timi-Kaiser Ogoriba, rejected the outcome, declaring it illegal and incapable of producing a valid National Executive Council (NEC).

Ogoriba, who boycotted the April 13, 2026, election, insisted that the process violated the directives of the National Conference of Ijaw Traditional Rulers and Elders (N-CITRE). He warned that failure to comply with the body’s position would leave the INC without a functional leadership structure.

In a statement made available to journalists in Abuja on Sunday, the aspirant described the election as a “charade,” arguing that unresolved disputes pending before CITRE rendered the exercise fundamentally flawed.

“For the umpteenth time, I want to state clearly that the purported INC election of April 13 was an illegality,” he said, citing ongoing disputes and an earlier directive by CITRE that the poll should not hold pending the outcome of its intervention.

Ogoriba maintained that CITRE, as the highest decision-making organ of the INC, is constitutionally empowered to resolve disputes, supervise electoral processes, and, where necessary, act in place of other congress organs.

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He recalled that at a reconciliatory meeting held on March 13 at Creek Haven in Yenagoa, convened by Douye Diri, participants agreed that CITRE would handle all election-related disputes before any fresh poll could be conducted.

According to him, the outgoing NEC and the electoral committee allegedly disregarded this resolution by proceeding with the election without awaiting the report of a seven-man committee set up by CITRE to investigate the issues.

He argued that such action undermined the authority of the elders’ body, which he described as the INC's only permanent organ, vested with final authority over disputes involving members and leadership structures.

“It is surprising that an NEC that emerged through processes midwifed by CITRE would now turn around to disregard the same institution,” he said.

The aspirant further questioned the legitimacy of any leadership emerging from the disputed process, noting that CITRE is also constitutionally mandated to conduct inaugurations of elected officers.

“If we go against their instructions, will they be there to inaugurate any of us who emerges as a winner?” he asked.

Ogoriba called on Ijaw stakeholders and the wider Izon nation to reject what he termed “anomie” within the organisation and instead rally behind CITRE, urging patience until the elders conclude their assignment.

He reaffirmed his support for the traditional institution, vowing that he and his supporters would not allow its authority to be undermined.

“We will stand with CITRE to ensure that a proper election is conducted after all disputes have been resolved,” he added.

The April 13 election has continued to generate debate within the INC and the general Ijaw nation, with stakeholders divided over its legitimacy and the role of CITRE in resolving the crisis.