Violence mars Nigeria’s journalists union election

JETHRO IBILEKE/Benin

The election of executive officers of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Edo state chapter, planned for Wednesday, turned violent with three persons sustaining injuries.

Trouble started early in the morning when the two national officers, Eddy Ogude (Zonal Secretary, South-South) and Uzaka Seiyefa (National Vice President, South-South) who were to conduct the election announced its postponement as instructed by the national secretariat of the Union.

Following the announcement, the expired executive, headed by Friday Obanor was dissolved and a caretaker committee was instituted to run the Council for three months, pending the resolution of all petitions written against several candidates in the election.

Fighting broke out when the caretaker committee appointed by the national body of the union attempted to hold a meeting at the Council hall. The decision was met with resistance by a group loyal to the dissolved executive of Friday Obanor.

The free for all fight that ensued resulted in serious injuries inflicted on three persons, including a cameraman of Independent Television and two others as suspected thugs allegedly hired by one of the aspirants freely used assorted weapons.

Policemen from the Edo State Police Command have since taken over the Council’s press centre.