Aggrieved aspirants within the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) have expressed dissatisfaction with the communique issued by the NUJ National Advisory Council following its meeting held in Abuja on November 7 and 8, 2024.
The meeting aimed to address critical issues affecting the union’s unity and the upcoming Triennial Delegates Conference, scheduled for November 26 – 28, 2024, in Owerri, Imo State.
The aspirants, led by NUJ Presidential candidate, Kris Atsaka and Deputies Edward Ogude and Wole Shokunbi, commended the Advisory Council for convening the meeting but strongly disagreed with several of its conclusions.
According to them, the communique failed to address pivotal issues, including alleged tenure elongation and irregularities in the formation of the Credentials Committee, which they claim are in violation of the NUJ Constitution.
“The extension of tenure by the National Executive Committee, led by the outgoing president Chris Isiguzo, is illegal, unconstitutional, null, and void,” the aspirants asserted in a statement.
They criticized the Council’s decision to request the withdrawal of court cases without properly engaging with aggrieved parties, who were not invited to the meeting, either in person or via remote communication platforms.
The aspirants also raised concerns about perceived bias, with outgoing President Chris Isiguzo presiding over the meeting, despite being a key figure in the disputed matters.
“It’s akin to a judge presiding over his own case,” they stated, arguing that the neutrality of the council’s resolutions was compromised.
Highlighting the council’s approach to similar disputes in the Bayelsa Council, where a political solution was applied to allow disqualified candidates to contest, the aggrieved aspirants urged the council to adopt a similar resolution for the national election.
“If Mr. Isiguzo can retrace his steps in Bayelsa, it stands to reason that a similar political solution should be applied at the national level to ensure justice and unity,” they argued.
In conclusion, the aggrieved aspirants stressed their commitment to peace and progress within the NUJ, while warning that unresolved issues may undermine the union’s stability.
They called upon the past leaders to uphold justice, saying, “Only by addressing these core issues can the NUJ truly talk of an enduring peace based on justice and equity.”