By Our Correspondent, Port Harcourt

The Movement for the Survival of the Izon Ethnic Nationality in the Niger Delta has called for the immediate dissolution of the Ijaw National Congress Electoral Committee over what it described as a “manipulated and predetermined” electoral process ahead of the 2026 INC elections.

In a strongly worded statement signed by its National President, Dr. Kennedy Tonjo West, MOSIEND warned that the current process poses a “grave danger” to the unity and integrity of the Ijaw nation, alleging that it has been designed to impose weak leadership through technical exclusions rather than democratic choice.

The group cited the disqualification of respected candidates—particularly Elder T. K. Ogoriba—as evidence of a deliberate plan to manipulate the outcome of the election.

MOSIEND said the justification for such disqualification, including the alleged one-year membership requirement, was “legally questionable, morally indefensible, and politically provocative.”

“A constitution that has not been duly ratified by a properly constituted National Congress lacks both moral and legal authority to determine eligibility,”

MOSIEND stated. “To deploy such an instrument selectively against credible contenders is to weaponize procedure against democracy.”

MOSIEND accused a “narrow circle of entrenched interests” of turning the INC into a closed establishment where leadership is rotated among familiar figures through questionable means.

It warned that the credibility of the INC—long seen as the unifying institution of the Ijaw people—was at risk of total collapse.

The group also expressed disappointment over the “troubling silence” of Ijaw leaders, including governors of Ijaw-speaking states and the outgoing INC President, Prof. Benjamin Ogele Okaba, particularly noting that Bayelsa State Governor Sen. Douye Diri, who rose from the Ijaw struggle platform, should not remain silent in the face of such institutional crisis.

“At moments of institutional strain, silence is often interpreted as consent,” the statement added.

MOSIEND warned that if the current process continues, it could lead to widespread rejection of the outcome, protracted litigations, parallel leadership structures, and deepened distrust among the Ijaw people—resulting in long-term internal instability.

Calls for Urgent Intervention

To avert what it termed a “historic crisis,” MOSIEND demanded the immediate dissolution of the INC Electoral Committee, citing loss of confidence and compromised credibility.

The group called for the postponement of the INC elections until a transparent process is established, and also demanded an emergency national stakeholders’ engagement todetermine the legal validity of the 2019 Constitution.

MOSIEND maintained that these actions were necessary safeguards, not obstacles, to democracy.

“The greatest threat to the INC today is not postponement,” Dr. West said. “The greatest threat is a discredited election.”

“The Ijaw Nation Is Watching”

The group concluded with a call for moral courage and historical responsibility among Ijaw leaders, urging them not to allow political expediency to override the unity of the Ijaw people.

“This is not a time for imposed leadership or elite endorsements,” MOSIEND emphasized.

“This is a time for legitimacy. The Ijaw nation must not be betrayed,” the group added.