Amgbare Ekaunkumo,Yenagoa
The incumbent chairman of Bayelsa State Council of Nigeria Union of Journalists, (NUJ), Comrade Samuel Numonengi of Nigerian Television Authority chapel, has been re-elected as chairman of the union to pilot it’s affairs for the next three years.
The election and inauguration ceremony took place at the Ernest IKoli press centre, Ekeki Yenagoa during the 2021Triennial Delegate Conference of the Bayelsa council of NUJ.
Comrade Numonengi polled 241 votes out of 333 votes cast, in a kinly contested election, defeated his opponent, Mr. Nelson Agadi of Niger Delta Television chapel, who scored 90 votes. Miss. Judith Young polled 175 votes to emerge as vice chairman defeating her closest rival Tonye Yemoleigha of Radio Bayelsa chapel who scored 156 votes.
Those elected unopposed were, Ogio Clement- Ipigansi, Information chapel, secretary, Mike Tayese , federated correspondents chapel, Financial Secretary, Beatrice Okatubo, Niger Delta Television chapel, treasurer and Joy Ifidi of New wave chapel, Auditor.
Declaring the result, the South-South Zone President of NUJ, Mr. Opaka Dokubo, described the election as peaceful, free, fair and credible, lauded members for their peaceful disposition, during and after the poll.
Dokubo advised them to sustain the tempo as well as assist the the leaders of the state council to succeed.
In his charge, South- South Zone Secretary of NUJ, Comrade John Angese, who described election as constitutional process of electing new leaders, charged the winners to be magnanimous with their victories.
Comrade Angese, who urged the new executives to operate all inclusive administration, emphasised that henceforth elections at the zonal level would be base on merit and not on godfatherism.
In there goodwill messages, State Chairman, Trade Union Congress, Mr Julius Laye, National Spokesperson of the Ijaw Youths Council, Comrade Ebilade Ekerefe and National Vice President two, Ijaw National Congress, Chief Nengi James, also described the election as free and fair and appreciated members of union for their comportment.
While stressing that election is not a do or die affairs, the trio said they have never witness an election peaceful as the NUJ Bayelsa election, and advised them to extend hands of fellowship to other contests as well as place the interest of members above board so as to justify members confidence on them.
In his acceptance speech, Comrade Samuel Numonengi thanked members of the state NUJ for the mandate given him and other members of the new executive, stressing that his last three years administration was successful due to their cooperation and thanked them for the gesture.
He called on those who lost at the election to join the new executive and cooperate with them to move the union forward, adding that he would carry them along in the scheme of things.
Meanwhile Mr. Nelson Agadi , the chairmanship aspirant who lost at the election has congratulated Comrade Samuel Numonengi and the members of the new executive.
Nelson gave the congratulation shortly after the election and inauguration of the new executive at the Ernest IKoli press centre, Yenagoa.
Samuel Numonengi who also swore in the new executives charged them to be their brother’s keeper and serve the union.
The highlight of the ceremony was the dissolution of the past executive, presentation of reports of the last executives by the chairman, secretary and financial secretary .
