The Council of Ijaw Traditional Rulers and Elders (CITRE) has announced the cancellation of the reported National Executive Committee (NEC) election of the Ijaw National Congress (INC) scheduled for tomorrow, 13th April 2026.
The declaration was made by the Chairman of CITRE and Ibenanaowei of Ekpetiana Kingdom, HRM King Bubaraye Dakolo (Agada IV), at a pressing briefing in Yenagoa on Sunday.
King Dakolo said tomorrow’s scheduled election is completely out of order and against the provisions of the INC constitution.
According to the monarch, the INC constitution provides that before the expiration of the tenure of an existing National Executive Committee (NEC) of the INC, there must be a new NEC in place at least 60 days prior.
He noted that it would be a breach of the INC’s constitution, if the scheduled election on the 13th of April should go ahead as planned, especially when the constitution has not been amended to make it 30 days instead of 60.
He also said the attempt to amend the constitution to 30 days was not successful as there was no proper procedure for the amendment as well as no convention was held through which the amendment could have been made.
“The election scheduled for 13th of April is out of order. It is completopposed to what the constitution stipulates because there was no convention to amend the constitution.
“So what is going on is an effort in futility. I’ve spoken to each of the presidential candidates not to waste their money and time.”
Citing Article 14 B2 of the INC constitution, the monarch also asserted the right and constitutionality of the CITRE to perform the function of the national executive council of the INC in the case of a lacuna as a result of dissolution or expiration of any tenure.
He added that the “constitution is explicit and that CITRE’s position is final and until the CITRE committee appointed which has me as chairman and all zonal chairmen of of the three zones conclude findings and come up with resolutions and advice NEC and ELECO accordingly, there should be no attempt at further infringement of picking people for an election.”
King Dakolo, who also chairs the Bayelsa State Traditional Rulers Council, debunked allegations that suggest he is trying to impose himself as the Acting Chairman of the INC, insisting that it would be inappropriate for him to do so given his position as leader of Ijaw nation as CITRE chairman.
“I am the chairman of CITRE, if the tenure of NEC expires, of course as chairman of CITRE, I will superintend over the affairs of the INC but I won’t call myself acting President of Congress, that will not be right,” he added.
He also argued that CITRE is constitutionally allowed to resolve all “electoral disputes of the INC,” and not just post electoral issues as some persons are interpreting it to be.
He further disclosed that “he has written to the Bayelsa State Commissioner of Police to ensure that there is no gathering of Ijaws in the name of INC elections into the NEC anywhere in Yenagoa or Bayelsa state tomorrow.”
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