The Chairman of the NUJ Lagos State Council, Mr. Adeleye Ajayi, has adjudged the NUJ Lagos Information Chapel election as free and fair.
Mr. Ajayi made this statement during the swearing-in of the seven newly elected members of the Lagos Information Chapel, held at the Lagos State Secretariat Staff Canteen, Alausa-Ikeja.
According to Mr. Ajayi, “I want to congratulate the members of the NUJ Lagos Information for conducting the most free and fair election, and I also congratulate Mr. Debo Adeniji and his team on their re-election for another term of three years in office. For those who did not win, I want to say they should take it in good faith, as I also contested several times before I won as the Chairman of the State Council of the union,” he added.
He implored the newly elected executives to do more and adhere to their electoral promises while admonishing members to support the Executive led by Mr. Debo Adeniji, so as to elevate the Chapel to greater heights.
In his acceptance speech, which he titled “Consolidation,” Comrade Debo Adeniji expressed his gratitude to the Almighty God for His unwavering faithfulness to each member of the Chapel.
“As you are aware, we exerted our utmost efforts during our initial term in office. In this second term, we aim to fortify and accomplish all that remains pending. Similarly, on behalf of the other Executive Members of this Chapel, I assure you of our commitment to ongoing collaboration with all stakeholders. Indeed, the pre-election period and the election itself have passed, yet the Ministry of Information and Strategy continues as an unbreakable family. I implore everyone to embrace this unity,” said Mr. Adeniji.
According to the Chairman, “I wish to declare that our triumph will fortify the NUJ Lagos Information Chapel, making it more robust and ending the politics of slander.”
He expressed his appreciation to the Permanent Secretary, Directors, Senior Colleagues, Contemporaries, and Comrades for their support for his re-election and to the electoral committee for conducting the freest and fairest election.
In his congratulatory message titled “Time to Reset,” the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Information and Strategy, Mr. Olumide Sogunle, said, “I congratulate all participants and umpires at the just concluded NUJ Lagos Information Chapel elections. The will of the majority of NUJ members has prevailed, and it’s time for sober reflection and a reality check.”
He implored contestants to refrain from allowing themselves to be pawns of any leader, individual, or group. Team play, selfless service, and cordial relationships, where superior arguments are put forward by opposing camps, win contests and elections; not character assassination, nor bitterness against contemporaries.
“As a Union of News hounds, this institution needs to close ranks. Future aspirants must listen to the counsel of elders and fashion out long-term strategies to identify the group that wields the most influence among the officers.
He further stressed that this is the quickest route to electoral victory; it has little to do with friendship but everything to do with antecedents, commitment, loyalty, and integrity,” Mr. Sogunle said.
Comrade Jamiu Hassan, the running mate, while congratulating Comrade Debo Adeniji, said, “We have just concluded another important session in the annals of our vibrant Chapel, the election of a new executive to lead us through a tenure of three years. I congratulate the new Executive Members and wish them a successful tenure in office.”
The election process, which was conducted by the credentials committee led by Mr. Tayo Ogunbiyi and announced by the representative of the NUJ Lagos State Council, resulted in Comrade Debo Adeniji securing 170 votes against his opponent, Comrade Jamiu Hassan, who received 99 votes.
