Confusion continues to reign in the Benue State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, following divisions in the rank and file of the union, with different camps owing allegiance to different persons. While a particular faction owes allegiance to the NUJ Chairman, Bemdoo Ugber, another led by members of the Correspondents’ chapel is believed to be working for the CPS and against Ugber. At its meeting of Tuesday May 26 congress had passed a vote of no confidence on the CPS. A communiqué signed by Terhemen Ater and Tsavbee Ayila, Chairman and Secretary of the communique drafting committee had made serious allegations against the CPS including disrespect to the Union as well as actions capable of causing divisions among media practitioners in the state. Kula was specifically accused of favouritism to particular individuals and groups especially members of the correspondents’ chapel while allegedly sidelining Benue-based journalists. Congress condemned what they described as Kula’s “continuous disregard and open disrespect” for the office of the NUJ state chairman, noting that his actions undermine the union’s institutional standing. In a swift response, members of the correspondents’ chapel next day issued their own press statement in solidarity with the embattled CPS. The correspondents commended the Chief Press Secretary for what they described his “professional handling of media relations and his efforts towards sanitizing the media space and discouraging quackery in journalism practice within the state”. The chapel said it “dissociated itself entirely from the communiqué issued” issued after Tuesday’s Congress. The Chapel rather raised the stakes in the drama when it raised questions concerning the state chairman’s alleged failure to account for ₦2m reportedly realized from schools owned by the Council as well as another ₦3 m allegedly collected from the Rector of Federal Polytechnic, Wannune for the purchase of furniture for the concil. The correspondents further noted that, “Out of ₦10m, a bus, and palm trees donated by Governor Alia to the NUJ during his visit to the Council, the Chairman allegedly diverted ₦3.5 m.” The chapel directed all its members serving in the State Working Committee (SWC), State Executive Committee (SEC) and other Committees of the Council to withdraw from all activities of the Council. The notice was signed by Martin Kajo, Chairman and John Shiaondo, Secretary as well as Tor Vande-Acka, member. Coming shortly on the heels of the correspondents’ communique was another by members of the Government House press crew. Signed by twenty members, the chapel also disassociated itself from the state council’s press statement which had passed a vote of no confidence on the CPS. The statement read in part, “We the undersigned members of the Government House Press Crew, Makurdi, Benue State, write this day 27th May, 2026 to publicly disassociate ourselves from the ongoing blackmail and extortionist campaign against the Chief Press Secretary to Governor of Benue state, Sir Tersoo Kula, orchestrated by the Nigerian Union of journalists, Benue State Council, led by its Chairman, Comrade Bemdoo Ugber who, in a typical ‘Pull Him Down’ syndrome bid, hurriedly convened a Congress meeting to pass a vote of no confidence on the CPS’ ", the statement said. Members of the crew described Kula as “a trained professional and media manager, leading journalists in Benue with dignity and respect in the pursuit of publicity for the Governor, Rev. Father Hyacinth Iormem Alia, at great personal cost and inconvenience, leveraging his long standing relationship with journalists in Benue State”, adding that “This attempt by Comrade Bemdoo Ugber to use the NUJ platform to publicly redicle (sic) the CPS, Sir Tersoo Kula and score cheap points with his collaborators will fail as it further reenforces the NUJ Chairman's personal interest to undermine the administration of Governor Hyacinth Iormem Alia who has done creditably well to transform the state”. At its meeting of June 15, 2026, Congress again reaffirmed its support for Ugber. This followed lingering controversy over the Chairman's conduct in office, with some factions notably Correspondents' chapel and the Government House Press Crew accusing the Chairman of financial impropriety running into millions of naira. A communique signed by Emmanuel Akula and Msoo Gyape, Chairman and Secretary as well as Winnifred Ehimhen, member respectively of the Communique Drafting Committee, said, "Following interventions by the National Secretariat of NUJ, critical stakeholders within and outside the Union, the Congress unanimously resolved to maintain a cordial and professional working relationship with the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Sir Tersoo Kula, for the overriding interest of peace, unity, mutual respect and the sustainable development of Benue State. "The Union carefully reviewed the allegations levelled against the Chairman of the NUJ Benue State Council, Comrade Bemdoo Ugber, by the Correspondents Chapel of the Union and members of the Government House Press Crew and found them to be unsubstantiated, baseless and false. "Consequently, members unanimously exonerated the State Chairman of all allegations and passed a resounding vote of confidence on him in recognition of his exemplary leadership, dedication, commitment to the welfare of members and unwavering efforts towards strengthening the Union. "Congress called on the Correspondents Chapel to retract its Communiqué containing allegations against the State Chairman and ensure that the retraction is published on all platforms through which the original Communiqué was circulated, in the interest of fairness, reconciliation and the unity of the Union." The crisis in the Benue council brings to fore longstanding tensions over financial and other material benefits accruing from government coffers. The Mandate reports that the crisis is caused by greed, fed by desperation among journalists serving in the state. The governor, not exactly famous for generosity has precipitated a situation where very few journalists serving in the state are patronized through the usual publication of supplements and other perks from government house.

Posted: 4months ago

Author: Chief Editor

Current date: 18 October 2026