…As Gombe-Born Journalist, Alhassan Yahya Emerges President

By Saeed Ahmad Bappah, Owerri

The Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) concluded its 8th Triennial Delegates Conference in Owerri, Imo State on Wednesday, November 27, 2024. The conference ushered in a new leadership for the union.

Gombe-born journalist, Comrade Alhassan Yahya Abdullahi, was elected as the new National President of the NUJ. He defeated his closest rival, Comrade Dele Atumbi, by a significant margin.

Annoucing the results, the chairman of the Credentials Committee, Comrade Uche Nwigwe, declared that Alhassan Yahya polled 436 votes, while Atumbi received 97 votes and Garba Muhammad received 39 votes.

Other elected leaders who were returned unopposed are two zonal officers from Zone E (North East): Comrade Zare Baba as Zonal Vice President and Musa Abubakar Waziri as Zonal Secretary.

A bye-election will be conducted to fill the positions of National Auditor General and two zonal officers (Vice President and Secretary) for Zone C.

Speaking shortly after being sworn in, Comrade Alhassan Yahya pledged to promote unity among members, fight for journalists’ welfare, uphold press freedom, and protect journalists’ rights.

He expressed gratitude to his supporters and assured them of his commitment to leading the NUJ with integrity, transparency, and accountability.

The new president also promised to reintroduce NUJ insurance, launch an NUJ online radio, upgrade the Nigerian Institute of Journalism, and implement other initiatives.

Comrade Alhassan urged all members to remain united and work together to advance the journalism profession in Nigeria.

The emergence of Alhassan Yahya as NUJ President also broke a historical jinx as he became the first NUJ president from the Northeastern states since the union’s inception in 1954.

According to the NUJ Constitution, an elected president serves a three-year term and can seek re-election for an additional three years, totaling a maximum of six years.