The Ijaw Publishers’ Forum (IPF) has congratulated High Chief Barr. MacDonald Ebi Igbadiwei on his emergence as President-Elect of the Ijaw National Congress (INC) following the April 13, 2026 election held at Ijaw House in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State.
In a statement issued on Monday, the IPF National President, Amb. Comrade Ozobo Austin, described Igbadiwei’s victory as a defining moment for the Ijaw people, noting that the outcome of the poll represented more than an electoral win but a collective mandate entrusted to a leader deeply conversant with the history, struggles and aspirations of the Ijaw nation.
The forum said Igbadiwei’s background, eloquence and depth of knowledge position him as the right figure to provide purposeful leadership at this critical time, expressing confidence that his tenure would promote unity, restore pride across Ijaw communities and advance the collective interest of the people.
While urging the President-Elect to lead with wisdom, courage and fidelity to the wishes of the people, the IPF stressed that the task of repositioning the INC begins immediately.
The forum also appealed to aggrieved aspirants and stakeholders in the just-concluded INC election to set aside differences in the interest of unity and progress. It described the contest as a family affair that should not create lasting divisions among Ijaw sons and daughters.
According to the IPF, the developmental, environmental and political challenges confronting the Ijaw people require a united front. It therefore called on former aspirants to channel their experience, ideas and support towards strengthening the new leadership of the INC under Igbadiwei and other elected officials.
The statement added that posterity would favour those who place the interest of the Ijaw nation above personal ambition, urging all stakeholders to rally behind the new leadership to build a stronger and more dignified Ijaw nation.
