We are Ijaw, and we will not be silent: New INC president demands enforcement of supreme court ruling on ward delineation

Newly inaugurated President of the Ijaw National Congress (INC), High Chief MacDonald Igbadiwei, on Thursday vowed that the Ijaw nation would not remain silent in the fight for the enforcement of the Supreme Court judgment on ward delineation in Warri Federal Constituency.

Speaking at his inauguration ceremony in Warri, Delta State, on May 14, 2026, Igbadiwei said the Ijaw people possess a distinct identity and would not be treated as equals to others in matters concerning their ancestral land.

“We make bold to say, without fear or favor, that we are unique people with a distinct DNA. We are Ijaw because we are Ijaw, and we cannot be made to be like other people,” he declared.

“This is our environment. We cannot be the ones producing everything and still be left to struggle for survival. We shall not remain silent in the pursuit of the enforcement of the Supreme Court judgment regarding ward delineation in Warri,” he added.

The statement comes amid renewed calls by Ijaw stakeholders for the implementation of the Supreme Court’s directive on the restructuring of electoral wards in Warri Federal Constituency, which they argue is key to ensuring fair representation.

Igbadiwei was sworn in as the 9th President of the INC during a ceremony attended by traditional rulers, political leaders, and delegates from across Nigeria and the diaspora.