Chris Awhawha
The Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) Bayelsa State Council, during the Triennial Delegates Conference held in Yenagoa, has elected its executive members to pilot the affairs of the union in the next three years.
The delegates conference held on Saturday November 16, 2024, was conducted by a five-man Electoral Committee under the supervision of the Zone F Vice President, Upaka Dokubo, the Zone F Secretary, John Angesse and Bayelsa State chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Simon Barnabas.
Tonye Yemoleigha emerged as the Chairman after he polled 213 votes against his opponent and immediate past Secretary, Ogio Ipigansi, who scored 206 while Inebaraton Preye was elected Vice Chairman with 238 votes against Ebiowei Lawal who scored 181 votes.
Other members of the executives include, Stanley Imgbi – Secretary, Aqua Akpuruku – Assistant Secretary, Tekninyo Theophilus – Treasurer, Theophilus Agidee – Financial Secretary and Grace Iwolo – Auditor.
Declaring the winner after a keenly contested electoral process, the Zone F Vice Chairman, Mpaka Dokubo, said “having satisfied all the necessary requirements, Tonye Tonye Yemoleigha, is hereby declared the winner and thereby returned elected.”
In his acceptance, the new elected chairman of the NUJ Bayelsa State Council, Tonye Yemoleigha, said that they have accepted the responsibility to serve the council in the next three years, and assured that the newly elected executives will not fail in their duty.
He said, “On behalf of the members who have just been elected as executive members of the NUJ Bayelsa State Council, I want expressed our profound gratitude to everyone on this day; the comportment, the orderliness despite the lapses that have brought us to this moment.
“In the course of our campaigns, we told you want we intend to do and we will not fail in doing that but before we get there, let me express my gratitude to Almighty God. This responsibility we have accepted and we are not going to fail you. The road will be turbulent, the road will be tough, but we assure you we are going to serve you. We need your cooperation, we need your steadfast support.”