Members of the State House Press Corps (SHPC), journalists accredited to cover Nigeria’s seat of power, Aso Rock on Thursday re-elected Dr. Anule Emmanuel as chairman to lead the elite media group for another term of two years.
Dr. Anule, a correspondent with Agence France Presse (AFP) world news agency was returned alongside six other executive members including, Alhaji Hassan Umar Farouk of Liberty Radio/Television as Vice-chairman, Mr. Sunday Ode of the People’s Daily as Secretary, Hajiya Raliat Adenekan of Beat/Classic FM as Assistant Secretary.
Others are Mr. Callistus Ikwunze Ewelike of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) as Financial Secretary, Nnabuchi Okey of Galaxy TV as Auditor, Adegboyega Arogbodo of Lagos Television as Welfare Secretary, and Mr. Innocent Oweh of Independent as Chief Whip.
At an emergency congress of the SHPC, the journalists adopted an affirmation electoral process, explaining that the present executive deserved a second term considering the transparent and accountable manner in which they have led the group in the last 18 months.
Out of the 48 members who attended the congress, 37 voted for a motion that the current executive should continue in office for another two years commencing on 29 April 2025 and terminating in 2027 without necessarily going through the rigour of election, while eight members voted against it. Three members did not vote on any side.
The present executive was first elected on 28th April 2023 by a 96-member Press Corps at the time. The SHPC currently has 78 members.
Dr. Anule after the voting, thanked members for the confidence reposed in the executive and assured them that they would continue to uphold high ethical standards in line with the tenets of the media profession in leading the group.
The executive is expected to be sworn in at a later date.
