Things Fall Apart As Two Factions Emerges From Delta NUJ Election – The Liberator 

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Two factions have emerged in the Nigeria Union of Journalists,NUJ, Delta State Chapter.

One of the factions is the Redemption Team ably led by the State NUJ Chairman, Comrade Michael Ikeogwu.

The other is the Prize Team led by Comrade Churchill Oyowe, a three time former Secretary of the Union.

The two factions finally emerged on Thursday at a failed election which held at the St. Patrick’s College in Asaba.

A former Chairman of the NUJ Warri Correspondents’ Chapel, Comrade Akpokona Omafuaire Esq in a chat with Our Correspondent in Warri confirmed the emergence of the two factions within the Union.

The Journalist cum lawyer however said the National Secretariat should decide how to merge the two factions and dictate modalities for the election within a very short time.

The actions of the South-South Zonal Secretary of the Union, Mr. Bassey Eyoh made it possible for the emergence of the two factions on Thursday.

He came into the election venue played a recorded phone call between him and the National President, Mr. Chris Isiguzo on the pretence of giving guidelines for the election.

Shortly after that, the National President, Mr. Chris Isiguzo called back live following protests from members of the Redemption Team.

The National President, Mr. Isiguzo  on phone dircted Mr. Eyoh who was perceived to have allegedly collected and eaten bribes to conduct the election with the use of the NUJ Identity Cards but he refused. 

As we speak, the National Secretariat of the Union is alleged to have set up two different Caretaker Committees to run the affairs of the Union in the next two months pending when a new date for the communication will be communicated to members in Delta State.

It was learnt that the some members of the National Secretariat of the Union are the ones fuelling crisis in the NUJ Delta State Council because they have failed in giving out a clear guideline for the conduct of the elections as it has contradicted itself.

Why the factions –

Members of the Redemption Team were in support of the use of the NUJ Identity Cards for conduct of the election. 

But members of the Prize Team who seemed to have allegedly imported mechanics, market women, IT Students and other Artisans into the election venue kicked against it when the National President called and spoke with Mr. Bassey Eyoh directing him to conducting the election with the NUJ Identity Cards.

Immediately some contestants of the Prize Team destroyed plastic tables that were supposed to be used as part of election materials in the presence of Security Operatives while members of the Redemption Team and their teeming supporters stood at the corner and watched the drama as it unfolded.

Some members of the both teams were later invited to the State Police Command where they signed a peace pact that the election be conducted with the use of the NUJ Identity Cards.

When they returned back from the Police Station, instead of allowing members of the Credentials Committee to conduct the elections, contestants under the auspices of the Prize Team destroyed the plastic tables in the presence of Security Operatives.

It is now left for members of the Union to choose who to cast their votes giving the violent attitudes displayed by some contestants under the auspices of the Prize Team who wanted to voted into leadership positions of the Union at the election venue.

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