The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Lagos State Council, has constituted a five-member Credentials Committee in line with the NUJ Constitution, which stipulates that an electoral committee be constituted three months before the expiration of an administration.
The committee was constituted during the August Congress of the Union held at the NUJ Secretariat in Lagos.
The five members of the committee were nominated by members in accordance with the guidelines enshrined in the NUJ Constitution.
They are Wahab Akinlade of Radio Nigeria; Abraham Akpabio of the Correspondents Chapel; Oluwakemi Shitta-Bey of the Federal Information Chapel; Bayo Akomolafe of New Telegraph; and Olatunde Ekundayo of the Lagos Information Chapel.
The committee has been saddled with the responsibility of conducting a free, fair, transparent and credible election for the Lagos State Council.
The NUJ Chairman, Mr Adeleye Ajayi, urged members of the committee to remain upright, impartial and guided at all times by the provisions of the NUJv Constitution.
Reacting to his nomination as Chairman of the Credentials Committee, Wahab Akinlade described the appointment as a “rare privilege.”
He said: “I am deeply honoured to accept this responsibility as Chairman of the Electoral Committee for this election. I sincerely appreciate the confidence reposed in me and the opportunity to serve our great Union at this important moment.
“I assure you that the Electoral Committee will discharge its duties with fairness, transparency, impartiality and integrity. Our commitment is to ensure that every eligible member is given a level playing field and that the will of the electorate is respected.
“I, therefore, appeal to all contestants and delegates to conduct themselves with maturity, discipline and the spirit of sportsmanship.
“Let us remember that, beyond the election, we remain members of one professional family with a shared responsibility to strengthen the NUJ.”
Lagos journalists are now looking forward to an interesting electoral season, with keen interest in the emergence of candidates and the programmes they will present to members.
The developments are expected to guide members in making informed decisions at the polls.
