Gadau Seeks Correspondents’ Chapel Support, Promises to Consolidate NUJ Gains

From Paul Orude Bauchi

Chairmanship candidate in the forthcoming Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Bauchi State Council election, Isa Gadau, has appealed to members of the Correspondents’ Chapel to support his aspiration, promising to consolidate the gains recorded by the union in the last six years.

Gadau made the appeal when he and members of his campaign team visited the Correspondents’ Chapel in Bauchi ahead of the council’s election scheduled for Saturday, September 19, 2026.

Addressing members of the chapel, Gadau described the Correspondents’ Chapel as an integral part of the NUJ family, saying his visit was to seek their prayers and support and to demonstrate his respect for the chapel.

He said he had maintained a cordial relationship with members of the chapel over the years, having worked closely with many of them in different capacities.

“I have worked with most of you. You entrusted me with the mandate for Vice Chairman and you voted for me. Five years later, I came back to seek your support for the position of Secretary, and you voted for me again,” Gadau said.

He said his relationship with members of the chapel had remained cordial, adding that there had never been a time when he had a serious issue with the members.

Gadau urged members who felt he had not done well in any area or could have performed better to approach him, assuring them that he remained open to constructive criticism.

“On behalf of myself and my team, we are here to solicit for your prayers first and then your votes,” he said.

Gadau said his administration, if elected, would consolidate the achievements recorded by the NUJ leadership, particularly in the area of infrastructure and the welfare of journalists.

He recalled the efforts made by the union’s leadership to secure support from the Bauchi State Government, saying the persistence of the leadership eventually yielded results after several engagements.

According to him, his team would ensure that facilities secured by the union are properly maintained and used for the benefit of journalists.

He said facilities inherited in 2023 remained in good condition, adding that even the NUJ bus that was burnt had been rehabilitated.

“We want to maintain the achievements. We want to ensure that the facilities we have are properly maintained and that the union continues to move forward,” he said.

Gadau also identified training and capacity building as a major area of focus, promising to sustain regular training programmes that would enable journalists to improve their professional skills and adapt to the changing media environment.

Receiving the campaign team, the Secretary of the Correspondents’ Chapel, Samuel Luka, said he had interacted with Gadau at the official level and described him as a friend of the chapel.

“As Secretary, I have interacted with Gadau at the official level, and I know him to be a friend of the chapel,” Luka said.

He stressed that members of the chapel would not engage in campaigns of calumny or allow the election to become a do-or-die affair, describing the contest as a family matter.

Luka said members believed that ultimate power comes from God, urging contestants and their supporters to conduct their campaigns with maturity and respect for one another.

“We will not engage in campaign of calumny or make it a do-or-die affair. It is a family matter, and we believe that power comes from God ultimately,” he said.

He also called for hate-free campaigns and responsible speeches, expressing the hope that the election would be conducted peacefully and without rancour.

Luka welcomed Gadau and his team to the chapel and assured them that members would continue to support the progress of the NUJ Bauchi State Council and work towards preserving the unity of the union.

Earlier, Nasiru Kobi, who represented the Director-General of the Gadau campaign organisation, Ishola Michael , said the team was at the Correspondents’ Chapel not only to campaign but also to appreciate the members and formally present their candidate to them.

Kobi said the Correspondents’ Chapel remained an integral part of the NUJ Council, stressing that the campaign would be based on issues and the desire to provide purposeful leadership rather than engage in activities capable of dividing members.

“We are not here merely to campaign. We are here to thank you in advance and to show you our candidate as a sign of respect to the chapel,” he said.

He acknowledged the responsibility of the incumbent leadership in catering for its members but expressed confidence in Gadau’s ability to provide effective leadership if elected.

Kobi called on all contestants to embrace issue-based campaigns, saying elections should not be treated as do-or-die contests because elected officers would eventually leave office while the NUJ family would remain.

He also appealed to journalists to work towards a peaceful election, noting that the NUJ had successfully conducted elections over the years despite differences among contestants.

He expressed confidence that the September 19 election would be peaceful and would produce a new set of leaders capable of steering the affairs of the Bauchi State Council.