History Made As Oasis Magazine Chapel Votes In NUJ Delta Elections, Umukoro, Abuza React

Oasis Magazine Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Delta State Council, has participated in the state council’s election for the first time since its inauguration in July 2024, with 10 of its 18 members taking part in Thursday’s exercise.

The election, held in Asaba on Thursday, October 15, 2026, saw the incumbent chairman, Comrade Oyowe, secure re-election for a second term following a keenly contested exercise.

Reacting to the development, the founder of Oasis Magazine Chapel and Publisher of Oasis Magazine, Comrade (Pastor) Daniel Umukoro, congratulated the Delta State Council of the NUJ on the peaceful conduct of the election, noting that winners had emerged and the focus should now shift to building a stronger and more united union.

Umukoro urged the newly elected leaders to promote unity, mutual respect and inclusiveness in the administration of the council, warning against a recurrence of the division that characterised the previous executive.

He said disunity among leaders could spread across the union because elected officials and their supporters often have different loyalties, adding that disagreements at the leadership level could create divisions from the top to the grassroots.

According to him, the new administration must ensure that disrespectful conduct ceases and that members accord the executive the respect it deserves. He also stressed that the chairman must demonstrate inclusive leadership by carrying members of his executive along in decision-making.

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He maintained that the administration of the union should not be a one-man show, noting that although the chairman might have a vision and blueprint for the council, effective delegation of responsibilities and collective participation would be necessary to achieve the desired results.

Umukoro further advised members of the executive to express disagreements constructively rather than allowing differences of opinion to degenerate into rebellion or open confrontation.

He emphasised that the responsibility for maintaining peace and unity rested not only on the chairman but also on every member of the executive and their respective supporters.

“Unity is not the sole responsibility of the chairman. Every member of the executive has a role to play in ensuring that the council remains united. While the chairman must carry everyone along, other members must also be willing to cooperate and promote peace,” he said.

The publisher observed that the relatively narrow margin between Oyowe and his challenger reflected the competitive nature of the election and indicated that the chairman had faced a substantial challenge from his opponent.

He said the outcome should remind the leadership that different interests and opinions exist within the union and must be accommodated in the spirit of democratic governance.

Umukoro, however, cautioned against allowing the outcome of the election to deepen existing divisions, urging all contestants and their supporters to put the contest behind them and work towards the collective interest of the union.

He maintained that a peaceful and united council would be better positioned to protect the interests of journalists and advance the objectives of the NUJ in Delta State.

“Divided we fall, united we stand. We do not want a situation where disunity becomes the defining feature of the council. The election is over, and the task before the leadership and the entire membership is to promote peace, mutual respect and unity,” he added.

Meanwhile, the Acting Chairman of Oasis Magazine Chapel, Comrade (Prof.) Andrew Abuza, described the chapel’s participation in the election as exciting, expressing satisfaction that the exercise was peaceful and winners emerged without rancour.

Abuza said the chapel was delighted to participate in the electoral process for the first time and reaffirmed its commitment to the growth and development of the NUJ in Delta State.

He also called on members of the union to embrace unity and work together in the interest of the journalism profession, stressing the need for peace and cooperation following the election.