Comrade Alhassan Yahaya becomes the first candidate from the Northestern part of Nigeria ) to assume the leadership of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ ) after defeating two other contestant to emerge as the new National President .
The journalist from Gombe State polled 436 votes at the just concluded triennial Congress of the union held in Owerri, the Imo State Capital.
Comrade Yahaya who hails from Gombe state was before his emergence the deputy National President of NUJ.
Announcing the results of the election at around 1:00am on Thursday morning, the Chairman of the Electoral Committee, Comrade Mike Ikeogwu said, Comrade Alhassan Yahaya polled a total of Four hundred and thirty six(436) votes to defeat his rivals Comrade Bamidele Atunbi, former National Treasurer of the Union who got 97 votes and Comrade Garba Mohammed who scored 39 votes.
The election was conducted at the 8th Triennial Delegates Conference of the Union held in Owerri Imo State which brought together about Six hundred delegates from the State Councils in the Country.
Also elected unopposed was the Deputy National President, Comrade Abimbola Oyetunde, General Manager Radio Nigeria Bronze FM Edo State and former BOT of the union.
Comrade Oyetunde by this feat remains the first female Deputy National President of NUJ.
Other National Officers of the Union were unopposed including the National Treasurer Comrade Victor Ndukwe who was the former Abia State Council Chairman, while Ronke Samo was reelected the Vice President of B-Zone (Southwest) unopposed.
The election conducted amidst tight security was presided by the Representative of the NLC President, Joe Ajaero.