Comrade Alhassan Yahya has emerged as the new National President of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ).
Yahaya was declared the National President on Thursday morning by the Comrade Mike Ikeogwu, Chairman of the Electoral Committee, at the 8th Triennial Delegates’ Conference of the Union in Owerri, the Imo State capital. He succeeds Comrade Chris Isiguzo.
Ikeogwu announced Yahaya’s victory after he polled 436 votes to defeat his opponents: Comrade Bamidele Atunbi, former National Treasurer of the Union, who garnered 97 votes while Comrade Garba Mohammed, scored 39 votes.
Yahya had previously served as the NUJ’s Deputy National President.
Ikeogwu formally declared Yahya, from Gombe State, as the duly elected National President of the NUJ amid cheers from delegates.
“By the powers vested in me as Chairman of the electoral committee, I hereby declare that Alhassan Yahya, having polled the highest number of votes, is returned as President of the NUJ for the next three years,“ he said.
Comrade Yahya’s election as the new National President of the NUJ makes him the first president from the North East region.
According to the NUJ constitution, Yahya will serve a three-year term in office.
In his acceptance, Yahya pledged to “uphold the constitution of the NUJ with all fairness, equity, and justice” while carrying out his responsibilities.
Also elected unopposed was Comrade Abimbola Oyetunde, who became the first female deputy national president of the NUJ.
Oyetunde, the General Manager of Radio Nigeria Bronze FM in Edo State and a former member of the Union’s Board of Trustees, expressed her commitment to advancing the Union’s goals.
Several other National Officers were also elected unopposed, including Comrade Victor Ndukwe, the former Chairman of the Abia State Council, who was re-elected as National Treasurer.
Also, Comrade Ronke Samo was re-elected unopposed as Vice President of the B-Zone (Southwest), and Comrade Eze Adiukwu was elected unopposed as Zonal Secretary for the Southeast
