The Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) has discarded an ongoing convention by one of its factions in Okrika, Rivers state, as a gross violation of the law, admonishing all to disregard the process and its outcome.
Spokesman of the IYC, Henry Iyalla, in a statement made available to journalists Saturday, said the apex Ijaw youth body had elected new executive council, the leader of which is Eric Omare as President, on the 2nd and 3rd of March, 2017, at a convention administered by its immediate past president, Udengs Eradiri, in Burutu town, Delta state.
The statement further stated that the ongoing process in Okrika, being spearheaded by some former leaders of the body is illegal and futile because the constitution of the IYC mandates only an outgoing president to conduct the convention that will produce a new and succeeding executive council.
“The IYC national leadership wishes to call on Ijaw youths and members of the public to completely disregard the purported election being called by some former leaders of the IYC.
“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 then President and leader of the council, Udengs Eradiri. Udengs Eradiri had since handed over the leadership of IYC to Eric Omare as President.
“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. 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”, the statement said.
The statement, however, called on security agencies to swing into action and ensure the that all parties respects the rule of law, adding that the Omare executive council believes in the peaceful resolution of all issues at stake
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