By Our Correspondent

The Adamawa State Chapter of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) has officially inaugurated newly elected officials of the Correspondents’ Chapel, marking the beginning of a new leadership era aimed at advancing journalists’ interests and upholding professionalism in the media industry.

Comrade Ibrahim Kado of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) was elected Chairman, while Anselm Nuhu Kyauta from AIT assumed the position of Secretary. Comrade Ibrahim Abubakar of Plus TV was elected Treasurer, bringing his financial management expertise to the chapel’s leadership.

Golfa Francis of Voice of Nigeria was elected Vice Chairman, ensuring broad representation within the media landscape. Other executives include Onimisi Alao of The Nation as Assistant Secretary, Talatu Maiwada from NAN as Financial Secretary, and Joseph Adahnu of New Telegraph as Auditor.

Administering the oath of office, NUJ State Chairman, Comrade Ishaka Donald Dedan, charged the new officials to uphold professionalism, unity, and maturity in discharging their duties. He emphasized the importance of working collaboratively to foster excellence, advocate for journalists’ welfare, and ensure transparency in the chapel’s activities.

The inauguration was attended by key NUJ members and notable media stakeholders.

Factional Leadership Emerges Amid Allegations of Election Disruption

Meanwhile, a faction of the Correspondents’ Chapel has inaugurated a rival executive, with Comrade Phineas Padio returning for a second term as Chairman.

Speaking at the ceremony, Padio alleged that the state NUJ leadership, under Comrade Ishaka Dedan, disrupted the election process, leading to the decision to form a parallel leadership.

Other members of the factional executive include Percy Dabang of Viewer TV as Secretary, Hanny Hanniel Zarokada of Business Day as Treasurer, Yagana Ali of Daily Asset as Financial Secretary, and Shafi’u Saleh of Leadership Hausa as Auditor.

Comrade Padio accused Dedan of overstepping his authority in determining eligibility for voting and candidacy, claiming that personal relationships, rather than NUJ guidelines, influenced the process. He further alleged that Dedan’s actions were driven by grievances from the 2023 governorship election, during which he reportedly attempted to use the media in support of the APC candidate.

Declaring his faction’s loyalty to the NUJ National Secretariat, Padio dismissed Dedan’s leadership and vowed to disregard his directives as his tenure nears its end in two months.

The emergence of parallel executives has deepened divisions within the Adamawa NUJ Correspondents’ Chapel, raising concerns about the union’s unity and the future of media leadership in the state.

By Our Correspondent

The Federal Government on Wednesday announced that Rivers State’s monthly allocation will be released to the appointed Administrator, Vice Admiral Ibok-Étè Ibas (retd.), amid the ongoing political crisis.

It also defended President Bola Tinubu’s declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers, describing it as a necessary step to prevent the state from descending into chaos.

Furthermore, the government dismissed claims that the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and former Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, played a role in the crisis that led to the emergency declaration.

The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, made these remarks while addressing State House correspondents at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.

Federal Allocation to Go to Administrator

When asked whether the state’s monthly allocation from the Federation Account would still be disbursed under the new arrangement, Fagbemi confirmed that the funds would be made available to the Administrator upon request.

“And to me, it will be in order for the release of that fund because the extraordinary situation has brought them out of the normal situation of things,” he stated.

Justifying the Emergency Declaration

Defending the President’s decision, the Attorney-General argued that Tinubu acted at the right time to prevent further deterioration of governance in the state.

“We have about two years into the administration in the state. Now, when do you think he (President Tinubu) should have come in? Is it when everything has been destroyed? I don’t think so,” he said.

“I think the President has acted timeously. He has given the opportunity to all the parties involved to make amends. Before then, he had assembled them and tried to mediate,” he added.

Background of the Crisis

On Tuesday, President Tinubu declared a state of emergency in Rivers State, suspending Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy Ngozi Odu, and all elected members of the Rivers State House of Assembly for an initial period of six months.

In a national broadcast, Tinubu cited prolonged political instability, constitutional breaches, and security threats as justification for the extraordinary measure.

The crisis, which has paralyzed governance in the oil-rich state, stems from a fierce power struggle between Governor Fubara and his predecessor, Nyesom Wike, who is now the Minister of the FCT.

As part of the emergency measures, Tinubu appointed Vice Admiral Ibok-Étè Ibas (retd.), a former Chief of Naval Staff (2015–2021), as the sole administrator to oversee the state’s affairs until stability is restored.