BY John Odhe
The Rivers State High Court sitting in Port Harcourt has struck out a suit filed against the President of the Ijaw National Congress (INC) Prof. Benjamin Okaba and its leadership by Ibiba Don Pedro and others, citing lack of jurisdiction.
The litigants were challenging the conduct of the Retired Justice Francis Tabai led INC National Executive Council (NEC) election conducted on April 10th, 2026 in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State.
In suit number PHC/1565/CS/2026, the plaintiffs argued that the election negated article 14-D of the INC constitution which Empowers the Conference of Ijaw Traditional Council and Elders (CITRE) to set up electoral committee and to settle election disputes.
Don Pedro and others also argued that CITRE had suspended the electoral process pending resolution of some issues raised by some aggrieved contesters but the INC and the electoral committee went ahead to conduct the election.
The plaintiffs therefore sought the powers of the court to nullify the Ijaw national executive council election which produced Chief McDonald Igbadiwei as president alongside other members to run the affairs of the highest Ijaw sociocultural group.
Lead counsel to Okaba and the INC, Ebibenabo Kenneth Okorodas in his response relied on section 20 of the INC constitution, arguing that CITRE could only resolve post and not pre-election disputes.
Speaking after the ruling, Okorodas disclosed that the court declined jurisdiction to entertain the matter, particularly on grounds of territorial jurisdiction.
According to him, the decision was consistent with an earlier judgment involving Yanga versus the INC where the court of appeal held that parties must first exhaust the internal dispute resolution mechanisms of the INC before approaching the courts.
Okorodas noted that the court of appeal had earlier reaffirmed that the lower court lacked jurisdiction over disputes involving the INC where the association’s internal dispute resolution procedures have not been fully exhausted.
He described the high court’s ruling as consistent with the appellate court’s position.
The legal practitioner expressed appreciation to members of his legal team for their commitment and professionalism throughout the proceedings.
Describing the outcome as a significant legal victory for the Ijaw nation, Okorodas said the judgment reinforced the principle that voluntary associations should be allowed to resolve their internal disputes through established mechanisms before resorting to litigation.
