By Segun Adewale in Bauchi
Comrade Rauf Oyewole of The Guardian Newspapers has been elected Chairman of the Correspondents’ Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Bauchi State Council.
Oyewole was elected on Tuesday, 6 October, 2026, in an election conducted by the Credentials Committee of the Chapel.
Other elected officers are: Mohammed Kawu, New Nigerian, Vice Chairman; Mohammed Nasir Shuaibu, New Telegraph, Secretary; Adamu Shehu Imam, Trust TV, Treasurer; and David Adenuga as Auditor.
In his acceptance speech, Oyewole described his victory not as personal triumph but as a responsibility entrusted to him to deliver quality representation and a stronger union.
He commended members for their peaceful conduct amid what he described as a fragile and nearly fragmented Chapel, and lauded the State Council for its neutrality.
Extending a hand of fellowship to his co-contestants, he said: “The election has produced new leaders but not winners and losers. The campaign might have divided our choices, but it must not divide our fraternity.”
He called on members to unite and work together for the development of the Chapel.
The new Chairman said his emergence was not a personal triumph but a responsibility entrusted to him by members.
“This victory is not a personal triumph. It is a responsibility entrusted to me by you, my senior colleagues who expect this leadership to make a difference,” he said.
Oyewole appealed to his fellow contestants to join hands with the new administration, stressing that the election should not create permanent divisions among members.
He specifically extended what he described as a hand of fellowship to his major challenger, Samuel Luka, and other contestants.
“I know this election has produced new leaders, but it has not produced winners and losers. We are all winners,” he said.
According to him, although the campaign may have divided members’ choices, it should not divide their professional fraternity.
“The campaign might have divided our choices, but it must not divide our fraternity. The unity that has been built by our elders must not be destroyed,” he said.
Oyewole assured members that his administration would remain committed to the promises made during the campaign, including fairness, transparency, improved welfare and professional development.
He said the administration would prioritise hands-on training to improve the professional skills of correspondents and urged members to hold the leadership accountable for its promises.
“We shall move from promises to opportunities, from individual struggle to collective progress,” he said.
Oyewole further promised to work towards eliminating divisive tendencies in the Chapel and ensuring that every member had an opportunity to participate in its affairs.
He said the administration would ensure that correspondents were able to discharge their constitutional and professional responsibilities without fear.
He also pledged to leverage partnerships with relevant organisations to attract opportunities and development to members of the Chapel.
“I did not ask you to elect me so that I could lead you alone. I asked you to elect me so that together we can build a professional Union where no member is left behind because they lacked information, connection or opportunity,” Oyewole said.
He called on members to put the election behind them and concentrate on the task of rebuilding and strengthening the Chapel.
“The election has ended. The work begins today. Let’s build the Chapel we all can be proud of,” he said.
Oyewole ended his speech with a personal request to his senior colleagues, asking them to address him by his name rather than by the title of chairman.
Meanwhile, the Chairman of NUJ, Bauchi State Council, Comrade Isah Garba Gadau, has commended the Chapel for conducting a credible and transparent election.
Gadau gave the commendation on Wednesday while swearing-in the new executives, thanking God for granting the Electoral Committee the wisdom to conduct the exercise with integrity despite challenges.
“On behalf of the State Council, I appreciate members for the maturity they exhibited during and after the election. I urge other chapels to emulate the Correspondents’ Chapel,” Gadau said.
He assured the new leadership of the Council’s support, stressed the need to resolve union matters internally through dialogue, and praised contestants who lost for their exemplary conduct.
