15 aspirants jostle for positions in Ijaw Youth Council poll

Fifteen aspirants have shown interest to contest for the various positions in the national executive of the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC).

Already, the IYC has set up a nine-man electoral committee headed by Bekere Ajuwa with two representatives each from three zones in the region.

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Also, allowed to present nominations into the electoral body are the Lagos and Abuja chapters of the council.

It was gathered that the presidency of the IYC has been zoned to the eastern area with aspirants expected from Rivers and Akwa Ibom states. The secretary-general is expected to emerge from the western zone with Delta, Ondo and Edo states expected to produce aspirants.

The position of the spokesperson, which is zone to the central zone, is expected to attract aspirants from Bayelsa state, Abua and Odua areas of Rivers state.

Three aspirants have already emerged for the position of the spokesperson of the IYC with Ebilade Ekerefe, Robert Igali and Bright Igali jostling for support from stakeholders.

Ekerefe, who made his intention known to stakeholders in Yenagoa at the weekend, said though he has had the intention to serve the IYC, the coming election is critical to the vision of the region

“If you follow the political landscape critically, people have started forming regional blocs around the country. There are issues of insecurity, under development, unemployment, banditry and many others.

“What is more fundamental is that, as Ijaw people, what would be our position in the Nigerian state where everyone is expected to regroup and form synergy?”