Court Affirms Eric Omare As Authentic President Of Ijaw Youth Council

A State High Court in Sagbama, Bayelsa state on Thursday, 5 March, 2020, declared as “authentic and legal election”, the election which brought Eric Omare as the 7th President of Ijaw Youth Council (IYC), worldwide.

BIGPEN understands that Omare was elected at IYC convention which took place at Burutu, Delta State in March, 2017.

His emergence was later trailed by series of controversy following a counter convention held at Okirika in April, 2017 in which Pereotuobo Oweilaemi also emerged as president.

However, ruling on a suit filed by two Zonal Officers of the Central Zone of the IYC, Amiebi Turner and Torutein Oki Isiya against Pereotuobo Oweilaemi & Others, Justice E. G. Umukoro,declared the election of the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) which took in Burutu as authentic and legal election.

The court further declared as illegal, null and void the IYC election which took place at Okirika in April, 2017.

Meanwhile, reacting to the judgment, Omare expressed thanks to God for the victory, saying that it is a victory for all “Ijaw youths who believed and stood by the mandate given to me and others at Burutu”.

He also thanked the claimants: Messrs Amiebi Turner and Torutein Oki Isiya for standing firm in the face of intimidation and blackmail during the course of the case

“I also commend Lead Counsel to the Claimants, Michael Ekadi, Esq for his meticulous prosecution of the case to its logical conclusion.

“The Honourable Justice Umukoro also deserve my commendation for dispensing Justice without fear, favour or prejudice.

“This judgement has put to rest the controversy surrounding the leadership of the IYC and has helped to put the records straight for the purpose of history.

“I am yet to see and study the judgement. I will go through it with my legal team and decide on the next line of action for the Ijaw Youth Council.

“I shall address a world press conference in the next few days on the way forward.

“However, I want to assure Ijaw youths all over Nigeria and all the people of Ijaw Nation, that the peace, unity and progress of the Ijaw Nation would dictate my next line of actions; hence there is no cause for alarm”, he assured.