The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Rivers State Council located at Ernest Ikoli Press Centre, Moscow Road, Port Harcourt elects new executives to run its affairs
Jude Nzennaya, Port Harcourt
It would be recalled that the Nigeria Union of Journalist (NUJ) election for the Rivers State Chapter was seen by many as the most peaceful, freest, fairest and most credible. It was first scheduled to hold in February 2025 but was postponed due unforeseen circumstances, prompting the National Vice President Zone F of the NUJ Mr Opaka Dokubo to declare it inconclusive.
A three-man Caretaker Committee was inaugurated chaired by Mr. Christian Godspower Anya Lekia of Radio Rivers and Mr. Boma Waribor of Kristina Chapel as secretary to spare head the affairs of the union for the time being, they were giving the mandate of piloting the affair of the union within a short period pending the when the election would be conducted for the new executives.
The election was rescheduled to hold on Monday the 17th March 2025 after which winner’s emerged shortly after the exercise of voting, result of the election was declared by the National Vice President zone F of the (NUJ), Mr. Opaka Dokubo. He comended members of the Rivers Council of the NUJ for their peaceful and maturity conduct during the election while describing the election as the most peaceful, free, fair and credible he has seen in the history of NUJ elections in the State.
According to him, comrade Paul Bazia of the information chapel scored a total of 144 votes to defeat his closest rival Mr. Ogboka Umeda of RSTV Chapel who pulled 140 votes. Other elected executives officers includes Dr. Ijeoma Tubosia of the Radio Rivers as secretary, Mr. Barth Ndubuwa of the Federated Chapel as Assistant secretary and Dabba Benibo of Top news Chapel as the treasurer. While the rest executives officers including Senibo Kelvin Neingi of Tide Chapel, Mr. Fubura Maibaka of Radio Rivers as financial Secretary and Ominini Wokoma of information Chapel as auditor were declared unopposed as no one contested against them.
In his acceptance speech comrade Paul Bazia the newly elected chairman, expressed his joy, thank members of the union for the over whelming support, assured them of carrying everyone along in the scheme of things without discrimination as well as call for unity among members of the union.
The newly elected chairman of the Rivers State Council of the Nigeria union of Journalist comrade Paul Bazia and his secretary Dr. Ijeoma Tubosia have been officially handed over all the necessary documents belonging to the union under the custody of Mr. Christian Godspower Anya Lekia the caretaker committee chairman (C.T.C) and the secretary Mr. Boma Waribor in their separate offices at the Ernest Ikoli Press centre Moscow road in Port Harcourt Rivers State.
The items and documents handed over to the newly elected chairman it includes the NUJ vehicle key, the notebook containing the income and expenditure, a note book of materials purchased, financial book and the office key of the union for the past six years of the past administration under the chairmaship of Mr. Job Stanley Job, while the secretary handed over the minutes book among others to the new secretary Dr. Ijeoma Tubosia.
