Court Backs New INC Leadership, Dismisses Objection, Grants Injunction
A High Court sitting in Warri, Delta State, has dismissed a preliminary objection challenging a suit filed by High Chief Macdonald Igbadiwei over the leadership of the Ijaw National Congress (INC), and granted an interlocutory injunction in his favour.
Presiding over the matter on Friday, May 8, 2026, Justice Anthony Olotu Akpovi held that the objection filed by the 1st Defendant, HRM King Bubaraye Dakolo Agada IV, lacked merit and was consequently dismissed with a cost of N500,000 awarded against the Defendant.
The claimant, High Chief Igbadiwei, is suing for himself and on behalf of the newly elected National Executive of the INC, following the congress election held on April 13, 2026.
In his ruling, Justice Akpovi affirmed that the Delta State High Court had jurisdiction to entertain the matter, noting that there was no legal restriction preventing the filing of the suit in the state.
He also ruled that allegations of forum shopping were unfounded, as the Claimant and the newly elected executives were not parties in a separate suit filed earlier in Bayelsa State.
The court further held that the failure to initially include reliefs in the statement of claim was a correctable irregularity and granted the claimant leave to amend the processes within five days.
On the substantive issue, the court granted reliefs sought in the motion for interlocutory injunction, restraining any attempt to disrupt the swearing-in of the newly elected INC executives. Justice Akpovi emphasized that the urgency of the matter was to prevent a leadership vacuum within the organisation.
He noted that the 1st Defendant, who was not a contestant in the election, had not provided sufficient grounds to oppose the injunction.
The court maintained that any aggrieved party could still challenge the outcome of the election through due legal process after the swearing-in.
Additionally, the court clarified that the INC constitution does not limit the venue of swearing-in ceremonies to Bayelsa State, stating that such ceremonies could validly take place in any of the organisation’s zonal offices, including those in Rivers or Delta States.
The court ordered accelerated hearing of the substantive suit, directing parties to file necessary amendments within specified timelines.
Hearing dates were fixed for May 29 and June 29, 2026.
The case involves multiple defendants, including members of the INC Electoral Committee and the INC President, Professor Benjamin Okaba.
