Iziguso’s overwhelming victory followed the withdrawal from the election by the only opposing candidate, Comrade Yusuf Idris.
However, Yusuf Idris polled 15 votes while 22 votes were declared invalid.
Despite the withdrawal of his major opponent, Yusuf Idris, delegates still affirmed the re-election of Comrade Chris Isiguzo, the incumbent National President of Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) by casting their votes in his favour.
Confirming Yusuf’s withdrawal, the Chairman, National Credentials Committee, Garba Muhammad stated that the committee received the withdrawal letter on the eve of the election, saying “Comrade Chris Iziguso is hereby returned unopposed due to the withdrawal of the only opposing candidate, Comrade Yusuf Idris yesterday (wednesday)”.
Journalists who monitored the process from the beginning till the end, commended NUJ delegates for the peaceful and credible conduct of the election.
Meanwhile, journalists, under the platform of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), have been tasked by some of their veterans to do the needful that would make Nigeria work better despite its ethnic and religious diversities.
They spoke at the opening session of the NUJ seventh triennial national delegates’ conference declared open in Umuahia, Abia State capital, by Governor Okezie Ikpeazu, who was represented by the state Commissioner for Works, Bob Ogu.
The governor appreciated the journalists for choosing Abia State for their conference, which he said, was privileged to host.
The conference, with the theme, “Media In Times of National Renewal,” was according to the NUJ National President, Chris Isiguzo, to enable journalists to do self-appraisal and chart new direction as well as elect new Central Working Committee (CWC) members.
The Guest Speaker, Mr. Emma Agu, a former Managing Director of Champion Newspapers and currently Managing Consultant of True Vision Newspapers, Gavinta & Associates, Abuja, noted the need for national renewal, adding that the country has been moving forward and backwards.
Speaking also, His Royal Highness, Eze (Dr.) Uwadiegwu Ogbonnaya, opined that with more highly educated people in journalism, the practice today should reflect the same, lamenting that the profession has been afflicted with many things.
Ogbonnaya, a veteran journalist of the defunct National Concord Newspapers and traditional ruler of Umuanyi Community in Isuikwuato Local Council of Abia state, queried the rationale for the recent threat by the Federal Government to declare a state of emergency in Anambra State while it did not do so in the troubled North-East and its nearby states/zones.
Veteran George Izobo, who was NUJ president 36 years ago, urged journalists to tolerate one another and show politicians that it is possible for them to work as one united country.
Noting that the NUJ will be 70 years old in Nigeria next year, he recommended that the national leadership that would emerge from this conference should celebrate NUJ at 70 next year.
Another past President of the NUJ, Bonnie Iwuoha, noted that the conference is the first being hosted by the South-East many years after the one held at Enugu and wished the delegates a peaceful and successful conference
Other national officers who were elected include Yahya Al-hassan as the new Deputy National President, while a former Vice President of B-Zone and ex-Ondo NUJ Chairman, Barrister Dele Atunbi of NTA, Abuja was elected unopposed as the NUJ National Treasurer.
Others are Samuel Dada of LTV, Lagos who emerged unopposed as the National Financial Secretary and Ladi Emmanuel is now the new National Internal Auditor while 6 Zonal Vice Presidents and Zonal Secretaries were also elected at the conference.
Also, former Ekiti NUJ Secretary/Vice Chairman Ronke Samo of NOA Chapel from Ekiti State was returned as the First female Vice President of B-Zone Southwest while Abdulrasaq Alege is the new B-Zone Secretary.
Comrade Isiguzo was born in Abia state and studied Mass Communication. He started his career as a journalist in 1999 as a reporter and has been a correspondent in many states with assigned responsibilities such as Sub-Editor, Editor, and Bureau chief in various platforms including Thisday Newspapers.
Chris Isiguzo was first elected as NUJ president in 2018.
In an acceptance speech, the NUJ National President, said he would not take the renewal of his tenure for granted by doing more to reposition the union to be more responsive to members.
Isiguzo disclosed that the NUJ Constitution would soon be reviewed to meet the current reality.
It would be recalled on Wednesday, the NUJ President, Chris Isiguzo confirmed that an order from the National Industrial court in Ibadan on the election had been vacated.
“To the Glory of God, the Ex-parte Order obtained by some union members in Ogun State Council from the Ibadan Division of the National Industrial Court of Nigeria suspending the 7th Triennial Delegates Conference has been vacated by the court in Ibadan today (on Wednesday).
“With this, all encumbrances have been cleared. I therefore use this opportunity to welcome our teeming delegates from across the country to Umuahia, Abia State. In all, the Union is the winner as collective interest surpasses individual’s interest,” Isiguzo said.
