COVID -19: IYC shifts election

Mike Odiegwu, Port Harcourt

The Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) Worldwide has shifted elections into the council from April to May 8th and 9th following the outbreak of the Coronavirus pandemic.

A statement signed by the Chairman of the Electoral Committee, Bekewei Ajuwa and Secretary Yola Dennis said the new electoral timetable was subject to government’s directives on the coronavirus pandemic.

At least 13 youths from Rivers State are warming up to contest the presidential election of the famous Ijaw group, the IYC.

Prominent among youth leaders contesting the number one position in IYC are Daniel Dasimaka, Kennedy Tonjo-West, Sammy George, Henry Hart, Bristol Emmanuel, Datolu Sukub, Emmanuel Opuada, Timothy Igbifa and Mobuye Obu.

The IYC is a notable radical Ijaw socio-cultural and political group championing knotty issues affecting the Ijaw ethnic group and its president wields a lot of influence.

Read Also: COVID-19: Commercial activities paralysed in Imo

The current President of the council, Eric Omare, who hails from Delta State, said the number one position had been zoned to the East, which is Rivers State.

Omare, who is midwifing the election, said 13 persons had shown interest to replace him in a free and fair contest to be conducted by the Electoral Committee.

Omare, who was recently declared the authentic President of the IYC by the State High Court sitting in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, said all arrangements for the election, had been concluded.

The court ended a prolonged leadership crisis in a judgement that stopped a factional leader of the council, Peretubo Oweilanmi from parading himself as the president of the council.