By Dayo Emmanuel
Five aspirants have been provisionally cleared for various positions to be contested at the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Lagos Council 2017 election.
In a statement on the outcome of the screening signed by Chairman Electoral Committee of the NUJ, Ajibola Ojesola, Dr Quasim Akinreti of Voice of Nigeria and Adeleye Ajayi of News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) were cleared for the Chairmanship of the council.
The clearance of Biodun Akinbusuyi of the Lagos State Information Chapel for the Chairmanship post was withheld.
Akinbusuyi is the Chairman of his Chapel, Akinreti has served as Chairman and Secretary of his Voice of Nigeria Chapel, while Ajayi is the Chairman of the News Agency of Nigeria chapel.
The clearance of the two contestants for the Vice Chairmanship post, Innocent Anaba of Vangaurd and Abiola Beckley of DAAR Communications Chapel were not cleared by the Electoral Committee.
Anaba has served his Vanguard Chapel as the Chairman and Secretary between 2002 and 2017, while Beckley has also served her DAAR Communications Chapel as Chairman and Secretary between 1993 and 2017.
For the post of the Secretary, Alfred Odifa from Lagos State Ministry of Information has been cleared by the committee.
Odifa who had served as Chairman and Secretary of his Chapel is the only aspirant for the post according to the list.
Philip Nwosu of the Sun Newspaper has been provisionally cleared to run for the Assistant Secretary position. He has served as Chairman and Secretary in the union since 1996.
The only aspirant for the Treasurer’s position according to the list, Iyabo Ogunjuyigbe of Radio Lagos/Eko FM was not cleared. She has served as Chairman and Secretary of her Chapel.
Samuel Dada of the Lagos Television, LTV was provisionally cleared to contest for the Financial Secretary position. Dada has served as Chairman and Secretary.
Isaac Ayodele of The Nation who is vying for the Internal Auditor’s post is yet to be cleared.
Meanwhile, the Electoral Committee has slated Friday August 4 and Monday August 7 for claims and counter-claims between 9am and 5pm. This would enable the organisation to entertain complaints and iron out issues relating to the forthcoming election.
The Committee also announced that final clearance of aspirants lies with the NUJ National Secretariat.
“Aspirants are advised not to paste posters or campaign until they get the final clearance from the NUJ National Secretariat, Abuja,” Ojesola said.
