The Ijaw National Congress (INC) on Sunday applauded the participation and emergence of Ijaws as candidates of leading political parties in the primaries across the Niger Delta.

The INC therefore congratulated Ijaw governorship, House of Representatives and Senatorial aspirants who emerged as candidates in the primary election conducted by their political parties across the Niger Delta region for the 2023 polls.

The President of the INC, Prof. Benjamin Okaba, made the commendation in an interview with journalists at the Bayelsa International Airport shortly on his arrival from an assignment in Abuja.

Okaba particularly expressed delight over the emergence of riverine governorship candidates for the All Progressives Congress (APC), the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Accord Party, among others, in Rivers.

He lauded the parties, political leaders and the good people and government of Rivers for the significant choice of eminent Ijaw sons as the flagbearers of the political parties for next year's general elections.

He also expressed confidence in the capacity and ability of the flagbearers to effectively govern the state if any of them is elected governor.

According to him, the process for their emergence was largely devoid of rancour and violence, which was hitherto the unfortunate scenario in previous years.

He thanked politicians who lost their election bids in the exercise for demonstrating the spirit of sportsmanship.

The INC chief also urged the parties and political actors to shun political thuggery and ensure a peaceful environment as the build-up to the forthcoming polls gathers momentum.

Okaba warned politicians and their supporters against the use of Ijaw communities as battlefields in their quest to realise their political ambitions.

He noted that Ijaw communities and Ijaw people had been victims of political mayhem unleashed on them in the past by desperate politicians seeking elective office.

Okaba insisted that enough was enough of shedding of blood in Ijaw land by politicians who throw decency to the wind and swim in the blood of Ijaw people to electoral victory.

He added that the INC as the apex Ijaw socio-cultural organisation will continue to maintain its non-political status and remain committed to its advocacy for self-determination, equity, justice and fairness for the Ijaw people in the hegemonic Nigerian State.