By Joyce Remi-Babayeju
The Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, FCT has returned Chairman Emmanuel Ogbeche of The Abuja Inquirer as the winner of the election which took place today at the FCT Chapter Secretariat in Utako, Abuja.
Ogbech emerged the winner with a Landslide 451 votes to defeat his opponent Donald Ugwu of the News Agency of Nigeria NAN with 59 votes with 9 void votes.
The new Chairman would direct the affairs of the Council for another three years.
Out of the 520 accredited voters, and 518 votes casted, Ogbeche got 450 votes to defeat his opponent, Mr Donald Ugwu of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), who scored 59 votes and nine votes were void.
Other winners who were returned unopposed are Patrick Osadebamwen of The Tribune Newspaper as Vice Chairman, Ochiaka Ugwu of People’s Daily as Secretary and Aisha Kadala of Aso Radio and Television as Treasurer.
Others include Gloria Essien of Voice of Nigeria as Financial Secretary and Dorcas Jonah from NAN, Abuja Chapel as Assistant Secretary.
Ogbeche is a two time Secretary of Council in the past by his victory has broken the jinx of one term Chairmanship in the FCT Council.
In his victory speech, Ogbeche, thanked his opponent Ugwu and his team for contesting against him.
He said, “For those who ran against us; without you this contest would have no meaning.”
“We offer you a hand of friendship, we invite you to join us to take FCT NUJ to the next level. The ideas you have, please let it bear, we are willing to work with you. ”
“We want to assure our partners and stakeholders that we are going to work. closely with you to achieve media independence, advocacy and rights of Journalist in the FCT and by extension, Nigeria,” Ogbeche promised.
Daybreak reports that journalists from the 28 chapels in the FCT casted their votes.
