The Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ on Saturday, July 25, 2015 elected Mr. Abdulwaheed Odusile, Managing Editor of the Nation Newspapers as the new president of the union.
The returning officer and Director of African Affairs at the International Federation of Journalists, IFJ, Mr. Gabriel Baglow, declared Odusile the winner after a well conducted election at the National Delegates Conference of NUJ in Abuja.
Selected persons from NUJ councils across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, were delegated for the conference.
Odusile who succeeds Malam Garba Mohammed, had 354 votes to defeat his closest rival, Mr. Rotimi Obamuwagun who garnered 333 votes.
Other NUJ presidential candidates included Mr. Dele Atunibi, who got 51 votes, USA Uzaka, who received 46 votes and Alhaji Mustafa Lamidi who got 12 votes.
The positions of Deputy National President, National Internal Auditor and the Vice-President, North-Central, were unopposed.
Mr. Mohammad Shu got 454 votes which automatically qualified him for the position of the financial secretary of the union.
Mrs. Monica Okechukwu, now the National Treasurer, garnered 310 votes to defeat two other contestants, Mr. Garba Iliya and Mr. Ambrose Nwachukwu.
Mr. Chris Isiguzo was declared winner of the position of South-East Vice-President after he defeated Mr. Goddy Okafor, while Aisha Ibrahim clinched the position of Vice-President North-East.
Other officials elected were Opaka Dokubo, Zonal Secretary,South South, Mr. Kenneth Ofoma Zonal Secretary, South-East while Suleiman Ibrahim emerged Secretary, North-East, Mr. Hakeem Olatidoye emerged Secretary, North-Central and Mr. Lawal Afolabi emerged the Secretary, South-West Zone.
Meanwhile, the current administration led by General Muhammadu Buhari on Friday, July 25, 2015 promised that press freedom for journalists would be upheld by the government.
