Managing Editor of The Nation newspaper, Alhaji Waheed Odusile, has been elected president of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ).
He succeeds Malam Garba Mohammed.
Odusile was declared winner of the keenly contested election by the returning officer and Director of African Affairs at the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) Mr. Gabriel Baglow.
He polled 354 votes to defeat his closest rival, Mr. Rotimi Obamuwagun, who garnered 333 votes at the National Delegates Conference of NUJ held in Abuja on Saturday.
Other contestants for the position included Mr. Dele Atunibi, who got 51 votes, USA Uzaka, who received 46 votes and Alhaji Mustafa Lamidi who got 12 votes.
While the positions of Deputy National President, National Internal Auditor and the Vice President, North Central, were filled unopposed. Mr. Mohammad Shu clinched the position of the financial secretary of the union after he secured 454 votes to defeat his contender Mr. Ajayi Olugbenga.
The post of the National Treasurer went to Mrs. Monica Okechukwu, who got 310 votes to defeat two other contestants, namely, Mr. Garba Iliya and Mr. Ambrose Nwachukwu.
Mr. Chris Isiguzo was declared winner of the position of Vice President, South East after he defeated Mr. Goddy Okafor, while Aisha Ibrahim clinched the position of Vice President, North East.
Other officials elected were Opaka Dokubo, Zonal Secretary, South South, Mr. Kenneth Ofoma Zonal Secretary, South East while Suleiman Ibrahim emerged Secretary, North East.
Similarly, Mr. Hakeem Olatidoye emerged Secretary, North Central and Mr. Lawal Afolabi won the post of the Secretary, South West Zone.
Delegates to the conference were drawn from NUJ councils from the 36 states of the Federation and the Federal Capital Territory, FCT.
Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa, Saturday sent a message of congratulation to Odusile on his success at the polls.
Obasa, while reacting to the NUJ National Delegates election result in a statement in Lagos, also greeted Nigerian journalists on the peaceful and successful conduct of the election.
“Congratulation my brother for your success at the polls and I am particularly pleased that your election came through a peaceful democratic process, I am really happy not only for you but also for the entire body of journalists in Nigeria,” the Speaker said.
Rt. Hon. Obasa described the peaceful election conducted by the NUJ as a clear indication that Nigerian journalists have real democratic instincts in them which is worthy of emulation.
