The Ijaw Publishers' Forum (IPF) has congratulated High Chief Barr. MacDonald Ebi Igbadiwei following his emergence as President-Elect of the Ijaw National Congress (INC) from election held in Ijaw House, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, on April 13, 2026.

In a statement issued on Monday, April 13, 2026, IPF's National president, Comrade Ozobo Austin described Igbadiwei’s victory as a defining moment for the Ijaw people. 

The Forum said the result represents “more than victory at the polls” and called it the mandate of a people who have entrusted their aspirations to a leader who understands the pain, the history of the pain, and the remedies that will heal it.

"Igbadiwei rises from the soul, the bone, and the spirit of our land,” the statement reads. “Today the creeks echo with affirmation: the right captain now stands at the helm.”

The IPF emphasised the President-Elect’s tested background, eloquence, and depth of knowledge, saying these qualities mark him as a navigator for this season. 

The Forum expressed optimism that his tenure will restore unity, dignify every Ijaw home, and pilot the collective destiny of the Ijaw Nation “from grounding to the waters of liberation and prosperity.”

The Forum charged Igbadiwei to lead with the wisdom of the ancestors, the backing of the people, and an unshaken fidelity to the wishes of the land, adding that, “The work begins now. Ijaw Nation has won.”

In the same vein, IPF has appealed to all aggrieved aspirants and stakeholders in the recently concluded INC election to set aside their differences and prioritize the collective interest of the Ijaw Nation.

The IPF noted that the election, though competitive, was a family contest that should not leave lasting divisions among brothers and sisters.

The media experts stressed that the challenges facing the Ijaw people — from development and environmental issues to political representation — demand a united front. 

It called on all former aspirants to bring their ideas, experience, and support to the table under the leadership of High Chief Igbadiwei and other newly elected officials, stating that unity is the only path to moving the Ijaw nation “from grounding to the waters of liberation and prosperity.”

The IPF added that history will remember those who chose the interest of the land above personal ambition, and urged every Ijaw son and daughter to join hands with the new INC leadership to build a stronger, more dignified Ijaw Nation.

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