Fidelia Soriwei, Abuja
The Court of Appeal sitting in Port Harcourt has affirmed Mr. McDonald Igbadiwei as the duly elected president of the Ijaw National Congress (INC), bringing to an end a legal challenge filed by retired Rear Admiral Geofrey Iyanga.
The appellate court dismissed Iyanga’s suit, which questioned the legality of the electoral committee that conducted the election of the INC National Executive Council and raised issues relating to qualification and disqualification.
The dispute originated from proceedings before the Yenagoa High Court presided over by Justice Michael Ekadi.
During the hearing at the lower court, counsel to the electoral committee challenged the court’s jurisdiction to hear the matter through a preliminary objection.
However, the court deferred consideration of the jurisdictional issue and proceeded to entertain other preliminary matters before adjourning the case for hearing.
Dissatisfied with that decision, counsel to the electoral committee, Mr. M.J. Numa (SAN), and counsel to the INC, Mr. Ebibenabo Okorodas, filed an interlocutory appeal.
At the Court of Appeal, both lawyers argued that the issue of jurisdiction ought to have been determined first before any other matter in the case.
The appellate court agreed, holding that jurisdiction is a fundamental issue that must be resolved whenever it is raised.
Having found that the lower court was wrong to proceed without first determining the jurisdictional objection, the Court of Appeal dismissed Iyanga’s suit.
The ruling also upheld the INC election conducted on April 10, 2026, at Ijaw House in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, by the electoral committee chaired by retired Justice Francis Tabai, thereby affirming Igbadiwei’s emergence as president of the foremost electoral ijaw organization.
