Comrade Collins Tarasele, a presidential candidate in the Ijaw Youth Council’s national elections has distanced himself from the emergence of a ‘factional’ National Executive Council.
Daily Report Nigeria reports that the IYC elective convention which held on Wednesday in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital ended without an election after out gone IYC President, Peter Igbifa dashed out of the convention during recess.
Igbifa left with suspended electoral committee Chairman, Solomon Urang and other members of his faction after a delayed process.
However, shortly after dashing out of Ijaw Ware, venue of the convention, a 9th NEC led by Tare Alaye Theophilus as President was announced by Solomon Urang.
ATTENTION: Click “HERE” to join our WhatsApp group and receive News updates directly on your WhatsApp!
Reacting to the development, Tarasele, who was originally part of the faction, denied knowledge and partaking in an election that produced the said 9th NEC.
READ ALSO: IYC Bans Peter Igbifa From Activities, Announces New Election Date
He Further declared commitment to the resolutions reached at the end of the convention at Ijaw Ware.
Tarasele’s statement reads;
“THE PURPORTED IYC NATIONAL ELECTION CONDUCTED YESTERDAY BY SOLOMON URANG, I AMB. TARASELE COLLINS PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE IJAW YOUTH COUNCIL DID NOT PARTICIPATE IN THE SAID ELECTION AND I DO NOT RECOGNIZE ANY OF SUCH ELECTION.
“It is no longer news that the defunct Solomon Urang factional Electoral Committee of the Ijaw Youth Council yesterday alleged that IYC National election was conducted yesterday which rumors have it that Dr. Alaye Tari Theophilius emerged as the President.
“It is however on record that because of the sacrosanct unity of the Ijaw Nation the Executive Governor of Bayelsa State Sen. Douye Diri harmonized both factions for a smooth and peaceful transition process which gave birth to yesterday’s elective convention in Ijaw House but was later inconclusive because of delegate harmonization between both factions.
“This press statement is therefore rudimental, as I wish to unequivocally state that i was not part of yesterday’s purported elective convention. I was totally absent in every sense and I do not give my consent to the process.
ALSO READ: Parliament Speaker, Bob Collins Igetei Declared IYC President
“It is also elemental that i clear the air because formally I was part and parcel of the Dcn. Peter Igbifa led faction until the harmonization/Unity elective Convention of both factions.
“With the above statement I wish to inform the general public, Ijaw Youths, delegates and most especially the Electoral Committee led by Comr. Gilpin Okeseisima that I still stand with the Unity Elective Convention as my name is already on the Presidential ballot paper and I will be participating fully in all the processes in the forth coming Ijaw Youth Council National Elective Convention slated to hold on the 22nd-23rd of July in Obuama, Rivers State Nigeria.”
