A coalition of elders has urged the Ijaw National Congress leadership to respect constitutional provisions in order to resolve issues arising from the body’s ongoing electoral process.

The stakeholders, made up of traditional rulers, academics, retired military officers, and activists, among others, made the call on Friday.

In the statement signed by Bukazi Etete, Roland Ekperi, Amagbe Kentebe, and Ann Kio Briggs, among others, the stakeholders emphasised the need to uphold the supremacy of the INC constitution.

The INC election initially scheduled for March 7 was stopped following a court injunction granted on March 6. The Justice F.F. Tabai-led election committee reversed its initial position that disqualified some election candidates.

Following the election committee’s decision, some aggrieved INC members sought redress in court.

Meanwhile, the Ijaw stakeholders have urged the election committee to ensure fairness and transparency in the process. They urged traditional rulers, opinion leaders and elder statesmen in Ijaw nation to act as “guardians of fairness, wisdom, and institutional balance”.

“Ijaw people all over the world are urged to remain peaceful, vigilant, and unwavering in support of the INC constitution.

“Strong nations resolve disagreements through principled institutions. We should support transparency in the electoral process in the interest of our unity,” said the coalition.

The coalition further cautioned that any attempt to weaken the INC constitution could diminish the organisation’s authority to represent the Ijaw people.

(NAN)