Drama as Babalola, Faniran lay claim to Oyo NUJ chairmanship

Considering the  current drama unfolding after the conduct of yesterday’s election of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, Oyo state council, what seemed like a fairytale ride to the apex seat of the number one journalist in the state for Fresh FM’s Demola Babalola may be turning into a  complex  litigation as Faniran Adewumi of Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN)  is also  laying claim to the same seat.

Babalola and other executives were elected on Wednesday 18th December, 2019 to run the affairs of the NUJ, Oyo state council for the next three years.

According to the results of the election which  was held at the Dapo Aderogba Hall, Oyo NUJ premises, Ibadan, Mr. Babalola polled 179 votes to emerge, chairman, defeating his only rival, who is also the incumbent chairman of the Union, Mr. Adewumi Faniran who had 6 votes.

The swearing-in of the newly elected officers, including Demola Babalola was immediately conducted by Mr. Adebayo Salawu, an Ibadan based legal practitioner, in the presence of the Senior Assistant National Secretary of NUJ, Mr. Gbemiga Bamidele.

However, in his reaction, Faniran on Thursday via his verified Facebook page declared himself as the Chairman of the Union

He informed that the National Industrial Court in Ibadan, stopped the National Secretariat of NUJ from conducting election pending the determination of a suit before it, saying status quo should remain.

“May I put it on records that, I, Adewumi Faniran and my Chapel, FRCN, as well as my loyalists and those who believe in the NUJ constitution did not participate in the illegality called election. It was indeed a show of shame”

“I want to appreciate you all for the show of solidarity since the beginning of this struggle and enjoin you to be more steadfast in our resolve to emancipate our Union from the hands of the maximum rulers.

“NUJ is our joint heritage and it’s far bigger than any individual. For me, I have seen the current development in Oyo NUJ as a challenge rather than do or die thing. What happened yesterday was not an election but selection by the National Secretariat of NUJ.

“As a regular payer of Check off dues into the coffers of NUJ, I will not succumb to the ploy by certain individual(s) to desecrate the union. I will continue to toll the path of justice until the National Secretariat does what is right.

“I want to state categorically that with yesterday’s order by the National Industrial Court, NIC, my executive remains intact”, Faniran submitted.