Comrade Alhassan Yahya has emerged as the National President of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) following a decisive victory at the union’s 8th Triennial Delegates’ Conference held in Owerri, Imo State. Yahya, who hails from Gombe State, secured 436 votes to defeat Comrade Bamidele Atunbi, former National Treasurer of the union, who garnered 97 votes, and Comrade Garba Mohammed, who received 39 votes.
The newly elected president succeeds Comrade Chris Isiguzo, who served as NUJ president for six years. Yahya previously held the position of Deputy National President and will now lead the union for the next three years, as stipulated by the NUJ constitution.
The conference also saw the emergence of Comrade Abimbola Oyetunde as the new Deputy National President, elected unopposed. Oyetunde, General Manager of Radio Nigeria Bronze FM in Edo State and a former Board of Trustee member of the NUJ, has made history as the first female Deputy National President of the union.
Other national officers were similarly elected unopposed, including Comrade Victor Ndukwe, the new National Treasurer and former Abia State Council Chairman, and Ronke Samo, who was re-elected as Vice President of B-Zone (Southwest).
The election process, conducted under tight security, was chaired by Comrade Mike Ikeogwu and overseen by a representative of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) President, Joe Ajaero.
This transition marks a new chapter for the NUJ, as the union’s leadership embarks on a mission to uphold journalistic excellence and address challenges in the media industry.
