Alhassan Yahya Emerges NUJ President, Makes History as First Leader from North-East
By Matthew Eloyi
Mr. Alhassan Yahya, a former Deputy National President of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), has been elected as the new National President of the union.
Yahya, who works with the Gombe Media Corporation, made history as the first NUJ president from the North-East region.
He clinched victory with 436 votes, defeating his opponents, Bamidele Atunbi, who garnered 97 votes, and Garba Mohammed, who secured 39 votes.
The election took place during the Eighth Triennial Delegates’ Conference held in Owerri from Wednesday to Thursday.
The Chairman of the Electoral Committee, Mike Ikeogwu, declared Yahya the winner in the early hours of Thursday.
“By the powers vested in me as the 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,” Ikeogwu announced.
In his acceptance speech, Yahya pledged to serve with humility and fairness, saying, “I will uphold the Constitution of the NUJ with all fairness, equity, and justice.”
He succeeds Chief Chris Isiguzo from the South-East, who completed two tenures spanning six years.
The conference also saw Abimbola Oyetunde, General Manager of Radio Nigeria Bronze FM, Edo, elected unopposed as the Deputy National President, making her the first woman to hold the position.
Other national officers returned unopposed include Victor Ndukwe as National Treasurer, Ronke Samo as Vice President (B-Zone), and Eze Adiukwu as Zonal Secretary (South-East).
The NUJ’s new leadership promises to bring inclusivity and progress to the union’s affairs over the next three years.