Members of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, have elected Alhassan Yahaya as the new National President of the union.
At a keenly contested election in Owerri, Imo State, the new NUJ helmsman polled a total of 436 votes to defeat his rivals, Bamidele Atumbi, former Treasurer of the Union, who scored 97 votes, and Garba Mohammed, 39 votes.
The well organised election involving 602 delegates across all states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) ended in the early hours of Thursday November 28, 2024.
The new President of the body of journalists who hails from Gombe State, was, before his emergence, the Deputy National President of the union, and elected alongside Abimbola Oyetunde as the Deputy National President.
Oyetunde, General Manager of Radio Nigeria Bronze FM, Edo State and former Board of Trustees (BOT) member of the union was elected unopposed.
With this feat, she remains the first female Deputy National President of the body.
Other national officers of the union were returned unopposed, including the National Treasurer, Victor Ndukwe, former Abia State Council Chairman, and Eze Adiuku, Zonal Secretary for Zone C (South East).
Since his election, congratulatory messages have been pouring in from states secretariats of the union, professional bodies and government institutions among others for the new President and his team.
