The Banigo Youth Movement (BYM) has elected a new executive to manage its affairs for the next three years just as the Chief and Head of the Banigo Chieftaincy House of Bonny Kingdom, Se-Alabo Sotonye Banigo charged them on unity and strategic leadership.
Se-Alabo Banigo gave the charge on Sunday, May 17, 2026 shortly after the winners of election were declared in Bonny, Rivers State.
The ingressing Executive comprises the Chancellor; Victor Ibifubara Banigo, Vice Chancellor; Johnson Franklin Banigo, Registrar; Darlington Rex Banigo, Deputy Registrar; Stella Justice Banigo, Director of Finance and Investment; Idawarifagha Banigo, Exchequer; Priscilla Nengi Banigo, Director of Manpower and Sergeant-at-Arms; Bright Apagha Banigo, and Director of Women Affairs; Abigail Ebenezer Banigo.
Represented by the Elder-in-Charge of Youths, Warisenibo Michael Banigo, the traditional ruler urged the BYM Executive to focus on strategically moving the youths forward, noting that Banigo House has always set the pace in youth leadership in Bonny Kingdom.
“We have about nine elective positions that were contested for. At the end of the day, nine successful ones were declared winners. I believe they will champion the issues of the House and I believe they will move the youths further to a new era. I advised them to work in unity.”
“Banigo House is a very unique house. It is one of the pioneer Houses of the Kingdom. So, we’ve led in many ways; for example, Banigo House is the pioneer House that actually started youth leadership in this Kingdom.”
“Today, Banigo House is showing exemplary leadership by conducting a hitch-free election where there was no rancour. It went hitch-free as observed by many other external invitees.”
He commended the Caretaker/ Electoral Committee for delivering on all four mandates given to it culminating in a free, fair and credible election, just as he also expressed the appreciation of the House to the election observers, the Bonny Youth Federation (BYF), amongst others.
In his remarks, General Secretary of the BYF, Omoni Sylvanus expressed satisfaction with the electoral process as observed by his team, noting that the electoral outcomes exceeded expectations, adding that there is still room for improvement.
“I want to say sincerely and honestly that the election today was seamless. It shows the spirit of unity. The procedure for the election is that at least you must have 20% of vote cast and it was a benchmark for any of the aspirants to emerge and I will tell you that most of them got over 80% of the votes cast.”
“It shows that even the youths that came out to vote actually understood the electoral procedures. I want to say that election was very peaceful, seamless, transparent and it was actually a learning curve for improvement in the future.”
The Caretaker/Electoral Committee, speaking through its Secretary, Clarkson Banigo thanked the Chief and Head of House, his Cabinet, the Elder-in-charge of youths, the Bonny Youth Federation, and all other stakeholders for their support, noting that the tremendous support enabled the Committee to deliver on its mandate.
In his remarks, the Chancellor of the Banigo Youth Movement, Victor Banigo expressed delight on the outcome of the election, attributing his emergence to the divine grace, thanking the Chief, the Elder-in charge of youths, and youths of the House for the confidence reposed in his executive, pledging not to fail them.
“Indeed, it was a success and we are so happy. I happen to be the winner of the election. It was by the will of God and by the grace of God Almighty.”
“I want to use this medium to thank the Se-Alabo of our great House, Se-Alabo Sotonye Banigo, KSC. I want to also appreciate the Warisenibo-in-charge of Youth Affairs, Warisenibo Michael Ida Banigo.
“I will not also forget the entire members of the CTC/Eleco that worked tirelessly to make sure that this election was a success. I want to say thank you to Dr Kalapapa Dappa Banigo for his good work, and to all the executives of Banigo Youth Movement that contested and won.”
“We pray that God will give us the enablement to pilot the affairs of these great youths to a greater height. I want to also use the opportunity to thank the Bonny Youth Federation that came to observe this election.
Some dignitaries in attendance at the inauguration were the Councillor representing Ward 3 in the Bonny Legislative Council; Frankson Banigo, Chief Executive Officer of 3D Multimedia; Emmanuel Hart, former Presidents of National Union of Bonny Students (NUBS), Kelvin Banigo and Kelly Banigo, and Director of Pollution, Bonny Youth Federation, Sotonye Allison, amongst others.
With the leadership transition done and dusted, the Banigo Youth Movement moves into a new phase where the various campaign promises made by the new Executive would be expected to be actualized with regards to positively escalating the fortunes of youths of Banigo House.