The Ijaw Elders Forum (IEF) has officially distanced itself from the current administration and global operations of the Ijaw National Congress (INC). Leadership of the IEF, including Chairman Chief Bukazi Etete and Secretary Efiye Bribena, cited a breakdown in internal democracy and clear violations of the group’s constitution as primary reasons for this separation.
The forum argued that any body claiming to represent the Ijaw people must strictly follow the rules that govern its authority. They noted that public trust in the INC’s capacity to defend Ijaw economic, political, and environmental rights has significantly declined.
Consequently, the IEF intends to reactivate the advocacy strategy it utilized from 2015 to 2021 to ensure the collective interests of the Ijaw people remain protected. The forum described this as a temporary move meant to restore constitutional order and institutional integrity. The IEF has invited various stakeholders, including traditional rulers, women’s groups, and youth organizations, to assist in these efforts to stabilize the socio-cultural body. As of now, the INC leadership has provided no comment regarding these allegations.
