The Nigerian Guild of Editors on Thursday inaugurated an electoral committee for its forthcoming biennial convention, scheduled for April 25 in Lagos. Steve Ayorinde, the Chairman of the Planning Committee of the 2015 biennial convention, said in Lagos that the highlight of the convention would be the election of officers and standing committee members.
Ayorinde added that Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State and Patricia Akwashiki, the Minister of Information, would grace the occasion. He said: “The elected officers and standing committee members will run the affairs of the body for the next two years by the constitution.
“All positions are open to all members and the election will be by secret ballot.” According to Ayorinde, the election of officers of the Guild is a professional affair and not political, adding that veteran journalists and other members of the Guild would be present at the event. Stanley Egbochukwu was inaugurated as the President of the Electoral Committee, alongside six other members of the Guild to conduct the election during the convention.
Egbochukwu presented the other elected members of the committee their letters of appointment and a copy of the Guild’s constitution. The President stated that a committee would be set up for possible adjustment of the current constitution as demanded by some members.
“We pledge to do our best in ensuring fairness in the forth coming election,” Egbochukwu said. Meanwhile, Femi Adesina, the incumbent President of the Guild, has expressed his interest to vie for the position for another term of two years. Adesina, who commended the election process, said the convention was an opportunity for members of the Guild to come together and address issues concerning the well being of the institution.
The outgoing General Secretary of the Guild, Isaac Ighure, urged interested candidates to vie for the position that he just vacated, after completing two terms in office. He said the position of Vice-President for the Eastern Zone was also vacant and open to candidates willing to vie for it.
