Who Becomes The Next President Of Ijaw National Congress Worldwide

On March 7, 2026, delegates drawn from the zones and chapters will file in at the Ijaw House, Yenagoa to elect a new President of Ijaw National Congress (INC), Worldwide. The winner will succeed the outgoing President, Prof. Benjamin Okaba, who has been president since 2016, when he was first elected to fill the position.
Okaba’s tenure had gone through many hills and valleys, especially following a long string of leadership crisis that kept the INC in limbo for a very long time. But he was able to steer the ship of the congress through the tough terrain and is finally ending his tenure.
Okaba’s tenure was largely peaceful and stable, devoid of most of the crises that set the congress on edge in the past. There were fewer communal crises and violent political face-offs in Ijawland during his tenure. He was always on hand to raise a voice for the Ijaw and advocate for policies and actions that address the interests of the people who form the fourth largest ethnic nationality in Nigeria.
The Ijaw are confronted with a peculiar situation in Nigeria where they are not only politically and economically marginalized, their ecosystem which lies in the Niger Delta wetlands is heavily polluted from hydrocarbon emissions and discharges.
The Ijaw occupy an enviable geographical location in Nigeria, lying along rich coastal areas of Nigeria, and most of the mangrove and rain forest areas of the Niger Delta. Though the Ijaw terrain is difficult, wet and marshy all year round, the territory has buried under it billions of barrels of crude oil and trillions of cubic litres of gas, which if applied to the development of the area, would place the Ijaw people and territories among the richest in the world. But alas, the gas and crude oil are exploited to fund the huge economy of Nigeria, a country whose administration poorly accommodates the Ijaw and their needs.
The political crises in Rivers and Bayelsa States had tasked the INC during Okaba’s reign. It also had to deal with the reality of the loss of its very vocal and influential leader, Chief Edwin Clark, whose shoes, it has been difficult to fill.
The expectations of the younger generation, the challenges of the Ijaw taking charge of their own affairs, the massive pollution of the waters and lands by oil exploration and exploitation and the failure of the international oil companies and Nigerian government to adequately compensate the people and cleanup their environment are among issues that face leadership of the Ijaw National Congress.
There is also the fight by the people against the balkanization of Ijaw into several states, making them minorities in the states where they find themselves except in Bayelsa State.
It is in this situation that a new national executive committee of the INC is stepping in. Six candidates have picked nomination forms to contest the presidential election. Each of them is eminently qualified with track records that speak highly of their engagement with INC and the Ijaw story. All of them hail from Central Zone, which is Bayelsa State. The candidates are Rear Admiral Geoffrey Yanga (Rtd.); Alabo Nengi James, the outgoing Vice-President; Chief Ebipamowei Wodu, the outgoing secretary; High Chief Macdonald Igbadiwei; Prof. Erepamowei Osaisai, a nuclear engineer and an energy scientist; and Elder Timi Ogoriba, a prominent leader of the Ijaw movement.
Leading the pack is Woyengidinkpete Geoffrey Yanga, a retired rear admiral, who hails from Sabagreia in Kolukuma/Opokuma Local Government Area. As a Lt. Cdre in the navy he fought along people like Retired Admiral Festus Porbeni to ensure that Bayelsa State created.
Yanga in his message, says, “The Ijaw nation must undergo a paradigm shift from a predominantly physical and agitational approach to a more holistic sustainable strategy.” He promises to bring about intellectual engagement and thoughtful leadership; strategic planning, tactical and disciplined execution; and proactive diplomacy.
To firm up his chances, Rear Admiral Yanga travelled across the Ijaw nation consulting and meeting with delegates and leaderships of both the INC in the three zones and Ijaw leaders across the states. Among those he visited in the Eastern Zone were the former deputy Governor of Rivers State, Sir Gabriel Toby, a former member of Provisional Ruling Council, Rear Admiral Promise Fingesi (Rtd.), the first President of INC, Chief Joshua Fumudoh, where he laid out his manifesto after briefing them of his intentions. He made similar visits to the Western Zone in Delta and Edo State, where he was well received and acknowledged.
‎High Chief Macdonald Igbadiwei, another candidate, said the election presents an opportunity for delegates to make decisions that will shape the future of the Ijaw people, stressing the need for collective responsibility in electing leaders who will genuinely serve and unite the nation.
‎Igbadiwei called on fellow aspirants and the entire Ijaw nation to continue to support the Electoral Committee and remain committed to a peaceful, credible, and transparent electoral process.
He reaffirmed his unwavering commitment to the unity, progress, and shared prosperity of the Ijaw people, emphasizing that the forthcoming election represents an opportunity to strengthen the collective voice and future of the Ijaw nation.
‎Igbadiwei said, “Only those who are grounded in Ijaw affairs, who have been fighting for the unity and progress of Ijaw nation can be trusted to man the exalted office of the INC and that is why I have come to contest for the INC elections and if given the opportunity, to shape the Ijaw affairs, and this is the right time for me to do it.
“Through agitation, dialogue, this can be achieved. Ijaw faces different challenges from different locations. Some face a lack of political freedom, others economic freedom. Therefore, Ijaw unity will make it possible for us to achieve our demands. Ijaws feed the nation with our own baked cake. We have every right to demand a fair share of that cake”
“This journey is about hope, responsibility, and the courage to lead with principle,” he said. “Together, we can chart a future defined by justice, prosperity, and shared success.”
Prof. Erepamo Franklin Osaisai , born on October 1, 1958, was the Director-General and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigeria Atomic Energy Commission (NAEC) and served in numerous professional and strategic capacities, both nationally and internationally. He brings to the INC race a rare combination of experience, global exposure, intellectual depth, and unwavering commitment to the Ijaw cause.
One of the candidates, Ebipamowei Wodu, the outgoing secretary, said he played a pivotal role in assisting the current leadership of the Association headed by Professor Benjamin Okaba in reviving the INC from the state of comatose.
He recalled that membership register of INC was introduced during his term as the secretary, and that he was part of the executive that drew a road map linking Ijaw communities in the coastal region. He promised to consolidate the gains recorded and move the Ijaw nation to greater heights.
The current Vice President II of the Ijaw National Congress, INC, Alabo Nengi James, described himself as the “most experienced, consistent, tested and trusted candidate” to lead the Ijaw socio-cultural organisation.
According to James, having traversed the Ijaw struggle as an astute believer for over 30 years and holding numerous positions, he brings a wealth of experience and capacity to seek the office of INC President.
“I feel very confident with God and with the support of the Ijaw people and I want to inform you today that I am grassroots oriented, trained, mentored, schooled, and schooled by my father figures, led by Harold Dappa Briye and Pa E.K. Clark, whom I served for over fifteen years as South South Peoples Assembly, SOSOPA, youth leader, having crisscrossed communities, states, and nations to learn much about Nigeria and the state of affairs, put me in great position.
“To a large extent, I have served in all capacity from pro-democracy groups down to Movement for Emancipation of Iajw Ethnic Nationality, MOSIEND, Bayelsa Youth Federation, BAYOF , Ijaw Youth Council, IYC, and now Ijaw National Congress, INC, I think I am the most experienced, consistent, tested, trusted, and more so, I have the blessings of my fathers who prayed for me before they departed this world.
“Under my leadership, we shall make deliberate efforts towards the unity of Ijaw people within and outside Nigeria and shall collaborate with the security agencies to ensure that Ijaw territories are adequately protected against bandits, kidnappers, and other form of criminality.
“We shall continue to dialogue, negotiate and interface with other socio-cultural and political organizations including Ijaw legislators at the national and state assemblies for the creation of additional states for the Ijaw people.
“INC will not relent in calling for the Nigeria government to address the environmental injustices across Ijawland as a result of years of gas flaring, oil spills and pollution. My leadership will address, tackle and advocate for the protection of our environment and eco-system as its affects Ijaw people.”
James is a contributor to books like ‘Oil violence: the proliferation of small arms and light weapons in the Niger Delta, Oil, Democracy, and The Promise of True Federalism in Nigeria and a Co-author of the book named Kule (a cultural dance – poetry collection of the Ijaw-Niger Delta titles) among others.
Elder Timi Kaiser-Wilhelm Ogoriba, a prominent figure in the Ijaw struggle is also contesting for the presidency of the INC Worldwide. He is leveraging his active participation and leadership of the Ijaw and Niger Delta struggle to sell his candidacy.
He said his mission is to reposition the INC and its structures to ensure self-sustainability, saying his focus will remain on pressing issues such as unity, state creation, self-determination, and restructuring.
Making a summary assessment of the campaigns so far, an eminent female Ijaw leader, Dr. Timiebi Koripamo-Agary, said everything should be done using this election to strengthen leadership, unity, and institutional stability among the Ijaw people.
She said, “To ensure credible, effective, and unifying leadership of the Ijaw Nation, aspirants to leadership positions within the INC should be assessed against the following minimum criteria: proven integrity and ethical standing; demonstrable personal integrity, consistency of character, and a clear record of ethical conduct in public and private life. The individual must command trust across zones, generations, and institutions. ‘
She also said the people seeking to lead the INC should be have independent and sustainable means of livelihood and show evidence of stable, lawful, and independent sources of income sufficient to guarantee freedom from undue influence, inducement, or compromise in decision-making.
She added that they should have relevant leadership and work experience, which are verifiable experience in leadership roles.
In addition, she said they must be commitment to the Ijaw cause, which must reflect sacrifice, advocacy, and constructive engagement rather than episodic or opportunistic involvement.
Other qualities needed for those seeking INC she said must include capacity for strategic thinking and crisis management; inclusive and pan-Ijaw outlook; respect for institutions, processes, and rule of law; respect for the INC constitution, internal processes, and lawful authority, including the ability to manage disagreements without undermining institutional integrity; and effective communication and statesmanship.