Edo NUJ Elections: Can Osakue break the jinx?
Edo NUJ Elections: Can Osakue break the jinx?
ABIODUN JIMOH, BENIN CITY
The Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), Edo State council elections into various offices will be decided today at the council secretariat, Oguola house, GRA, Benin City.
The positions to be contested are chairman, secretary, assistant secretary, treasurer and auditor, while two other offices namely vice chairman and financial secretary are unopposed.
The high point of today’s elections is the battle involving the incumbent chairman, Sir Roland Osakue from Nigerian Observer Chapel, and four others candidates contesting for the chairmanship position.
This became necessary of great interest as to know whether Osakue who has been in the saddle of the Union since 2015 will be able to break the elusive jinx that have befall the Union for decades as no chairman has ever ruled the council for two term.
Every attempt to return for the second term by former chairmen always proved abortive and at time resorted to fracas that almost brought the union into disrepute.
However, contesting alongside Osakue for the apex office are Ferdinand Osakue from ITV Chapel, Festus Alenkhe of EBS Chapel; ex- chairman, Comrade Friday Obanor of Nigerian Observer Chapel; and incumbent vice chairman, Roseline Imonikhe of State Information Chapel.
Similarly, for the secretary position is between former secretary, Titus Akhigbe of Correspondent Chapel and Andy Egbon of Nigerian Observer chapel, while Kingsley Abavo of Federated Chapel lock horns with Elvis Omorogbe of Merit Chapel.
The race for the treasurer position is a straight battle between two brothers from same chapel, Emokpae Osaretin and Solomon Obozuyan, both from Bronze FM Chapel just as Paul Iduozee of Federated Chapel tries his popularity against experience Jethro Ibileke of Correspondents Chapel for auditor position.
Meanwhile, the duo of Imelda Osayande of Correspondent Chapel and Lucky Isibor of Merit Chapel are elected unopposed for the vice-chairman and financial secretary respectively.
The voting exercise is still on as at the time of reporting while the atmosphere is peaceful not even with the presence of security agencies but due to the comportment and level of maturity of the Union members.
