Rivers NUJ Gets New Executive …Moves To New Secretariat’ Morrow

American Ambassador, James Entwistle (left) fielding questions from journalists during his visit to the Senate President Bukola Saraki in Abuja last Thursday

After weeks of horse-trad
ing, a new executive of the Rivers State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) has emerged.
The new executive led by Mr Omoni Ayo Tamuno emerged at the end of a keenly contested elections that took place at the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) secretariat, Port Harcourt.
Tamuno who was the immediate past vice chairman of the NUJ, Rivers State Council, polled 147 votes to emerge the chairman of the council. He beat two other contestants, Messrs Stanley Job Stanley and Imikubi Lillybox (both of the Radio Rivers Chapel) to a distant second and third positions respectively.
Stanley who was the immediate secretary of the council scored 80 votes, while Lillybox garnered 52 votes. Three votes were, however, declared void by the Returning Officer, who represented the national secretariat of the union.
Two other positions that were contested are those of secretary and vice chairman.
Mr Soibi Max-Alalibo of The Tide Chapel beat his office colleague and only challenger, Mr Tonye Orabere to emerge the secretary. While Max-Alalibo scored 145 votes, Orabere polled 130 votes, with seven votes declared void.
In the vice-chairmanship category, Miss Uche Agbam of the Rivers State Television (RSTV) Chapel emerged winner after polling 115 votes to defeat Mrs Clarice Azutalam of the Federated Chapel who scored 85 votes and Mr Jim Opiki of the Independent Monitor who polled 76 votes. Four votes were declared void in this category.
It will be recalled that the election was earlier scheduled to hold in May 21, but following a protest against the disqualification of a chairmanship candidate, Mr Obed Omah of the Radio Rivers Chapel, the election was ‘paused’ by the national secretariat of the union.
Supporters of Omah under the aegis of New Era Campaign Organisation led by Mr Tonye Jenewari later gave Obed’s campaign structure to Ayo Tamuno to produce the new chairman.
Speaking shortly after receiving certificate of return,  new chairman thanked the journalists in the state, especially his supporters, for the trust and confidence reposed in him to lead the union.
He declared that the election has produced ‘no winner, no loser’promising to carry everybody along in the new administration.
Reviewing events that led to the emergence of Ayo Tamuno as the new chairman, Mr Jenewari noted that Omah’s disqualification gave Tamuno a clear lead ahead of his rivals.
“The result of the chairmanship election they just announced is a product of serious politicking and good understanding between our group (Obed’s group) and Ayo Tamuno’s group
“It all happened within just 48 hours after we confirmed that Obed would still not be allowed to contest,” he said.
The new executive is expected to move into the new ultra-modern secretariat built for the union by the immediate past state government of Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi along Moscow Road, tomorrow.

Boye Salau