The planned cancellation, which was alleged to have been instigated by some few disgruntled government officials and some members of the NUJ, was reportedly backed with petitions and an alleged sum of N4million in bribe.
While the angry members of the Bayelsa Council of NUJ expressed disappointment at the alleged action of the National President, Comrade Chris Iziguzo over his verbal contact with the elected Chairman of the Bayelsa Council, Samuel Numonengi over the series of petitions against his victory without providing him copies for defence as required by the constitution.
Others alleged that the sum of N4million makes handed to the NUJ President to annul the election might have influenced the attempt to circumvent the NUJ constitution and throw the Bayelsa Council into crisis.
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Sources at the Bayelsa NUJ council alleged that though the role of the State Governor, Hon Seriake Dickson is not known in the raging crisis, it was alleged that some his aides involved in the plot to destabilise the NUJ is hinged on issues of tribal sentiment false party affiliation to the elected Chairman.
The Chairman of the Bayelsa NUJ, Comrade Samuel Numunegi, who confirmed the development during an emergency meeting of the council at the NUJ secretariat, said the outburst of the National President, Comrade Chris Iziguzo, that his election would be cancelled is illegal and unacceptable to those that elected him.
At the emergency meeting, most journalists that spoke expressed outrage over the alleged plot to cancel the election and throw the Bayelsa Council into crisis, “It is not a rumour. The National President met me in Owerri and informed me about a petition against my election. I demanded copies of the petition, but he refused. Up till now, the president told me that the election will be cancelled.”
A newspaper publisher, Comrade Victor Christopher, insisted that “it is unfortunate that people without credibility are allowed to contest council elections. Those filing petitions and calling for the cancellation of elections are cowards, and we should plead with them not to use their ignorance to instigate crisis in NUJ.”
Reacting to alleged plan to cancel the November 1st 2018 election that brought the new leadership into office which was adjudged to be credible, transparent, free, and fair with the loser, Comrade John Angese, congratulating the winner, members in-session, urged the national leadership of the NUJ to respect the decision and wishes of the generality of practicing journalists in Bayelsa State.
However the members of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Bayelsa State Council passed a vote of confidence on its present leadership led by Comrade Samuel Numonengi for his purposeful and pragmatic leadership since assumption of office.
In a statement after the emergency congress of the union on Tuesday, December, 4th, 2018, Secretary of the NUJ, Comrade Ogio Ipigansi, members unanimously supported the motion to that effect moved by Comrade David Amabra of the Niger Delta Television Chapel.
The congress in-session also noted that the leadership style of the chairman particularly his drive to build unity of purpose among members and the renewed drive and innovative policies to rejuvenate the state council was very commendable.
Deliberating on the motion, members warned those plotting to destabilise the State Council of the NUJ to desist in the overall interest of the union.
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