Cracks in Ijaw Youth Council as factional convention ongoing in Okrika Rivers state

- Crisis is currently rocking the the new national leadership of the Ijaw Youth council (IYC)

- A factional leadership convention is going on in Okrika, Rivers state

- The new leadership under Eric Omare frowns at the convention and called all former leaders instigating the crisis to drop the idea and let peace reign

The national leadership of the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) has described as illegal an ongoing convention in Okrika in River state purportedly to elect a factional leadership for the IYC.

In a statement signed by spokesman of the IYC, Henry Iyallah, and made available to NAIJ.com the IYC said it has been receiving calls and inquiries from Ijaw youths, stakeholders and members of the public relating to a purported IYC election taking place at Okochiri in Okrika, Rivers state.

The statement said all Ijaw youths should completely disregard the purported election called by some former leaders of the IYC.

According to the statement: “The IYC has since the 2nd to 3rd of March, 2017 at Burutu town, Delta state duly conducted elections into the National Executive Council at the instance of the former President and leader of the council, Udengs Eradiri

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“Udengs Eradiri had since handed over the leadership of IYC to Eric Omare as President of the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) worldwide.

“We wish to state clearly that former leaders of IYC have no power whatsoever to call for a convention for the purpose of conducting elections into the IYC National Executive Council.

“We advise the few IYC former leaders involved to maintain their advisory role rather than assuming executive functions and becoming partisan.

“It is also important to alert the reading public to know that whatever that is being planned or happening at Okrika, Rivers state is being done in flagrant disregard of the rule of law.

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“The question of IYC leadership is already a subject of litigation before the Bayelsa State High Court and parties have been asked to maintain the status quo.

“More specifically on the 31st of March, 2017 when one of the matters came up in court, the lawyer to those purporting to do election at Okrika made an unequivocal undertaking before His Lordship, Justice Ogola not to go ahead with their purported election until the determination of their preliminary objection and the Plaintiffs' motion for interlocutory injunction.”

The group called on security agents to ensure compliance with the rule of law.

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