By Patrick Wemambu
The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) has ended its 8th Triennial Delegates Conference in Owerri, Imo State Thursday with election of new national officers to pilot its affairs for the next three years.
Immediate past National Deputy President of the union, Comrade Alhassan Yahya, polled 436 votes against the 97 scored by his closest rival, Bamidele Atunbi and 39 votes garnered by Mohammed Garba to emerge as the new president of the union.
In an acceptance speech, Yahya pledged to serve “humbly and with the fear of God as well as uphold the Constitution of the NUJ with all fairness, equity and justice.”
Former member of the Board of Trustees (BOT) of the union, Mrs Abimbola Oyetunde, who doubles as General Manager, Radio Nigeria, Bronze FM, Edo State, was returned unopposed as the new Deputy National President. She becomes the first female member to be elected to that exalted office.
Other elected officers include the Treasurer, Victor Ndukwe, who was erstwhile Abia State Council Chairman and Ronke Samo returned as the Vice President of Zone B (South-West). The election which was conducted amidst tight security had over 600 delegates in attendance from 36 state councils across the nation.
Later, in a congratulatory message, the Imo State governor, Hope Uzodimma, who hosted the Conference – rejoiced with the newly elected officials. Speaking through his Chief Press Secretary, Oguike Nwachukwu, Uzodimma expressed satisfaction that elections to the various posts were peaceful.
Noting that winners capable of delivering transformational leadership for journalists in Nigeria emerged, the governor encouraged the new EXCO to build on the achievements of its predecessor. While highlighting the role of journalism in upholding democratic values, the chief host emphasized the importance of journalistic ethics in combating the menace of fake news. The union was assured of Imo State’s continued support for the body.
It would be recalled that the NUJ had been plagued by crisis leading up to the Owerri Congress with potentialities of scuttling the event. A member, Abdulwaheed Adubi, from the Kaduna State Council had approached the National Industrial Court, Abuja through his counsel, Ibrahim Bawa, SAN, seeking to halt the just-concluded elections on the premise that the tenure of the Chris Isiguzo-led EXCO had elapsed since 6th October 2024.
However, in his affidavit, Counsel to the defendants had contested validity of the claimant’s arguments, questioning the latter’s membership of the union. “The claimant failed to utilize the internal mechanisms for resolving disputes as outlined in Article 7 (vi) (a) and (b) of the NUJ constitution,” Patrick Ediale, lawyer to the defendants claimed, arguing that granting the injunction sought would cause unnecessary disruption to the NUJ’s activities.
Subsequently, during the resumed hearing of Adubi’s application, Wednesday 20th November 2024, the presiding judge in her ruling refused to issue an intermediate injunction. “This matter is adjourned to December 13, 2024, for ruling on the application for injunction,” Justice Olunfunke Anuwe, had declared, rejecting all entreaties by the claimant to secure immediate court intervention.
