Churchill Oyowe, a Deputy Director, Delta State Ministry of Information on Wednesday emerged as the new chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, Delta State Council.
Oyowe, a member of the State Ministry of Information Chapel and a two-time State Secretary of the Union, won the chairmanship position after two attempts by defeating his only challenger, Comrade Salvation Ogono, who is also from the same Chapel with him.
The election which was held at the Delta NUJ Press Centre on Mariam Babangida Road, Asaba, the state capital was conducted by a five-man Credentials/Election Committee led by Comrade Christain Ogoh under the supervision of the Vice President and Secretary, NUJ Zone F and representatives of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, Delta State Chapter.
More than 400 qualified, practising and registered journalists from the 16 Chapels of the Union in Delta State participated in the election.
After voting, sorting ballot papers and counting, Churchill Oyowe polled 234 votes to defeat Salvation Ogono who scored 185 votes.
For the position of Vice Chairman, two-time Chairman of Delta Broadcasting Service Warri NUJ Chapel and veteran Broadcast Journalist, Felix Ekwu, garnered 271 votes while his rival, Joy Mordi, had 158 votes.
Print journalist, Victor Sorokwu clinched the Secretary position with 173 to defeat Gilbert Olie with 77 votes and Felix Igbekoyi with 159 votes.
Josephine Omordion won the position of Assistant Secretary with 238 votes as against Andy Emephia who scored 168 votes while Celestine Afokobah polled 219 to defeat Toju Oteri with 184 votes to occupy the position of Auditor.
Caroline Ubini and Polycarb Orosevwo returned unopposed for the positions of Treasurer and Financial Secretary respectively.
After the declaration of results and subscribing to the Oath of Office, the 7-man elected State Working Committee (SWC) of Delta NUJ led by Churchill Oyowe was sworn into office amidst excitement and jubilation.
Meanwhile, the outcome of the election has been adjudged free, fair and credible unlike the election conducted in October 2020 which electioneering processes were very rancourous.
The immediate past state chairman, Michael Ikeogwu is expected to formalise the handing over to Churchill Oyowe in the coming days.
Reacting to the outcome of the election, veteran broadcast journalist and lecturer in the Mass Communication Department of Dennis Osadebey University, Asaba, Dr Patrick Edema wrote, “Comrade Churchill Oyowe, newly elected Chairman of Delta State Council of the NUJ, is a core professional with a sound academic background! His first and second degrees are in Mass Communication and he has been practicing for over two decades! He has passed through the tutelage of the grandmasters of the Union! He is expected to bring his wealth of experience to bear in order to redefine the parameters of true leadership!
