About 400 Nigerian editors, who are arriving Enugu for the National Biennial Convention of the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE), will have at the top of their minds the election of officers who will run the Guild’s affairs for another two years.
On Wednesday evening, the electoral committee, headed by respected journalist and rights advocate, Mr. Richard Akinnola, released the list of candidates cleared to contests for 16 positions, following rigorous screening exercises.
The incumbent President, Mr. Eze Anabi, who is Editor of Vanguard, and five other officers stand being declared unopposed since no member challenged their bids.
Among the other officers who are also deemed elected unopposed are all the three Vice Presidents: Kabir Alabi Garba (West zone) and Sheddy Ozoene (East); while Hamza Idris (North), who will be serving a first term on that post, also has no challenger.
Garba is the Editor of The Guardian on Sunday; Ozoene is the Publisher of Peoples & Politics; while Idris is Editor of Daily Trust.
Others in this category are the Assistant Secretary, Mr. Gabriel Akinadewo of Freedom Online, and the Mr. Charles Kalu of People 105.5 FM.
In the race for Deputy President are Mohammad Sanusi Jibrin of Ammasco Radio, Kano, and Dr. Abu Sabastine Mohammed of the Nigerian Standard newspapers.
The Managing Director of Sun Newspapers Limited, Mr. Onuoha Ukeh will be battling for the seat of the General Secretary with Mr. Oluwole Sogunle of the News Agency of Nigeria, and Voice of Nigeria’s Dr. Qasim Akinreti.
Outgoing General Secretary Dr. Iyobosa Uwugiaren of ThisDay newspaper is contesting to become the Treasurer, and is being challenged by Mr. Boma Nwuke of Port Harcourt Telegraph.
There are seven ex-officio seats to be filled with the West zone having three of them, while the East and North zones are allotted two posts each.
For the West zone, five candidates are in the race. They are: Adebisi Olufemi of Daily Independent. Rose Moses of Newsmart Online, Ejiro R Umukoro of Lightray Media, Olabisi Deji-Folutile of Franktalknow.com and Juliet Bumah of the New Telegraph.
Contesting in the North zone are: Umoru Ibrahim of Triumph, Adeshina Tayo Gbenga of Distinguished Nigerian magazine, Paulyn Owhievbie Ugbodaga (New Ultra 360 Media & Allied Services) and Raliat Yusuf (LEADERSHIP).
For the two seats in the East, there are four contestants – Chinedu Max Egere (Newscorneronline), Dom Isute (Daily Grand News Online), Lawrence Mpama (Cross Atlantic newspaper) and Ikpong Essien-Udom (Newsfront).
The elected officers will serve a two-year term.
