BY: EMMANUEL CHUKWUMA, ENUGU.

Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State has congratulated Mr. Chinazo Ilechukwu on his election as the Chairman of the Correspondents’ Chapel, Imo State Council.

Ilechukwu, Correspondent of the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN), polled 17 votes to defeat his closest rival, Mr. Everest Ezihe of The Authority, who secured 11 votes, and Mr. Amby Uneze of ThisDay who got only one vote.

The by-election was held by members of the Correspondents’ Chapel at the NUJ Secretariat in Owerri to fill the position of the former Chairman, Mr. Chinonso Alozie of the Vanguard.

In congratulating Ilechukwu, Governor Uzodimma urged the new Correspondents’ Chapel Chairman to see his election as a call to serve the public and God.

A statement by the Chief Press Secretary/ Special Adviser, Media to the Governor, Chief Oguwike Nwachuku, said his principal was particularly pleased to hear that Ilechukwu was popular among his colleagues as a hardworking, responsible, and God fearing journalist who will be willing to use his position in the interest of his colleagues, profession and the society.

“As primus inter pare, Ilechukwu is expected to lead by example, to live above board as Chairman of the Correspondents’ Chapel, Imo State Chapter, setting the pace in ensuring that his colleagues abide by the ethics of the profession as they go about discharging their duties.”

The Governor assured the new Chairman and his team of the preparedness of his administration to continue to support and partner with the media in ensuring that they discharge their duties objectively, and without let or hindrance in the interest of the public.

He further urged Ilechukwu to be magnanimous in victory, particularly as it concerns his opponents during the by-election, refusing to see the running of an all inclusive executive as a sign of weakness, but rather, the strength in committed leadership.

Ilechukwu, married with children, has a Higher National Diploma (HND) in Mass Communication from the Institute of Management Technology, Enugu as well as a Masters Degree in Mass Communication from the Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka.

The election was presided over by the Acting Chairman of the Correspondents’ Chapel, Mr. Collins Osuji of The Guardian.

The Chairman of the NUJ in Imo State, Mr. Ifeanyi Nwanguma, had long inaugurated Ilechukwu as Chairman of the Correspondents’ Chapel in Imo State.