Comrade Nsibiet John has been elected Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Akwa Ibom State Council, following a landslide victory in the highly anticipated union election held on Saturday, August 2, 2025.
A former Chairman of The Federated Chapel, Nsibiet polled an emphatic 555 votes out of 684 accredited delegates, leaving his closest contender, Nene Affia, with a distant 92 votes. Effiong Edet and Esther Effiong secured 21 and 4 votes respectively.
The election, conducted under a peaceful and transparent atmosphere, drew significant interest from the journalism community across the state. It was widely commended by observers and stakeholders as free, fair, and credible.
Other key positions were also keenly contested. Margaret Moore emerged as Vice Chairman with 393 votes, defeating Mkpoikana who garnered 246 votes, and Ernest Robert with 34 votes. For the position of Secretary, Nsikak Esenowo triumphed with 419 votes, ahead of Michael Ufot’s 253.
Uduak Akai was returned unopposed as Assistant Secretary, further consolidating the structure of the new NUJ leadership.
With this victory, Comrade Nsibiet John succeeds Comrade Amos Etuk, whose tenure was widely acknowledged for reforms and a strong emphasis on members’ welfare.
Nsibiet’s election is being hailed as a resounding endorsement of his commitment to professionalism, unity, and accountability in union affairs.
In his acceptance speech, the newly elected Chairman pledged to run an inclusive and visionary administration, promising to build upon the achievements of his predecessor and usher in a new era for journalism in the state.
“This victory belongs to all of us,” Nsibiet said amidst cheers from jubilant supporters. “I am committed to carrying everyone along as we work together to elevate our union and defend the dignity of our profession”, he said.
The transition process is expected to be concluded in the coming days with a formal handover ceremony. The election was supervised by Comrade Dogkubo, Vice President of NUJ (Zone F), alongside members of the Local Electoral Committee and security agencies.