Edo NUJ Elections: Osakue breaks jinx, beats four others for 2nd term
ABIODUN JIMOH, BENIN CITY
Sir Roland Osakue has become the first incumbent chairman of Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), Edo State council to be re-elected into the topmost position in the history of the union.
Osakue, in a keenly contested election held at the council secretariat, Oguola house, GRA, Benin City on Wednesday, polled a total of 115 votes to break the age long jinx that had bedeviled the council for decades.
The 2018 Edo NUJ elections into various offices were adjudged the best ever organised elections in the history of the union in the last one decade, as it was declared free of rancour and disturbances throughout the voting process that ended 3:30pm, while the counting lasted hours later.
At the count of the ballot boxes witnessed by agents of all the candidates and electorates, Osakue 115 votes were strong enough to beat four other contestants thus emerged winner to steer the affairs of the Union for the next three years.
Coming a distant second was Festus Alenkhe of EBS Chapel with 76 votes while Ferdinand Osakue of ITV Chapel came third with 64 votes. Roseline Imonikhe of State Information with 39 votes beat former chairman, Friday Obanor of Nigerian Observer Chapel who polled 19 votes to place fourth and fifth respectively.
Titus Akhigbe of Correspondent Chapel polled 197 votes to record a landslide victory over Andy Egbon of Nigerian Observer Chapel who polled 120 votes, and thus emerged the council secretary, while Abavo Kingsley of Federated Chapel beat Elvis Omorogbe of Merit Chapel by a slim four votes difference, as both had 158/154 votes respectively.
The battle for treasurer position between two brothers from same Bronze FM Chapel, Emokpae Osaretin and Solomon Obozuyan, was eventually won by Emokpae who polled 156 votes against his brother, Solomon with 139 votes.
Paul Iduoze of Federated Chapel effort to try his popularity against experience Jethro Ibileke of Correspondents Chapel for auditor position failed to materialise having posted 46 votes lesser than his captor, who had 175 votes.
It could be recalled that the duo of Imelda Osayande of Correspondent Chapel and Lucky Isibor of Merit Chapel were elected unopposed into the vice-chairman and financial secretary offices respectively.
In his victory speech, Osakue promised to uphold the tenets of the Union constitution and carry all members along in his second tenure. He declared that everybody is a winner as he is ready to work with all others to move the Union toward.
