The President of the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC), Theophilus Alaye, has cautioned aspirants contesting various positions in the council to see leadership as a call to service, not a money-making venture.

Alaye gave the warning during the 2026 pre-elective convention held on Saturday in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

He said delegates at the convention were drawn from the Central, Eastern and Western zones, as well as the Abuja and Lagos chapters of the council.

The IYC president noted that his tenure would end on July 19, 2026, stressing the need to commence the transition process with the constitution of the National Electoral Committee (NECOM) to oversee the emergence of the 10th National Executive Committee (NEC).
He expressed optimism that the inauguration of NECOM members would ensure a smooth electoral process, urging them to uphold transparency and fairness.

Alaye warned against excessive financial demands on aspirants, noting that the process should not be turned into an expensive contest similar to governorship elections.

“The aspirants are Ijaw youths offering themselves to serve the Ijaw nation and not to make money,” he said.

He added that reducing the cost of contesting would enable those elected to serve with dignity and in the collective interest of the Ijaw people.

Alaye also reiterated his call for the decentralisation of the oil pipeline surveillance contract, noting that such a move would promote peace, equity, stability and development in the Niger Delta region.