The campaign organisation of the Delta State NUJ chairmanship candidate of the STAND-UP Team, Comrade Kenneth Onojomena Obieh, has dismissed claims by detractors that his ambition is driven by the desire to confront or antagonise the incumbent Government of Delta State, ably led by His Excellency, Rt Hon Elder Sheriff Francis Oborevwori, a k.a UKODO, the new Sheriff in town.
The team described the allegation as propaganda, false, unimaginable and orchestrated from the pit of hell by destiny destroyers and enemies of progress, aimed at misleading journalists and other stakeholders ahead of the October 15, 2026, Delta State NUJ elections.
According to the campaign organisation, Obieh is seeking the leadership of the union not to fight the government, but to provide responsible representation, strengthen the relationship between the NUJ and government, and protect the union’s interests and assets.
“Comrade Kenneth Onojomena Obieh is not coming to fight the government of the day. He is coming for better representation, responsible leadership and to save the union from further asset stripping,” the campaign stated.
The team maintained that Obieh’s record of service speaks against the portrayal of him as a confrontational Unionist, noting that he served for six uninterrupted years as chairman of the State Information Chapel, where he was responsible for Field Information.
It said his tenure demonstrated his capacity to engage government and relevant authorities constructively while pursuing the interests of journalists.
“Obieh believes in the rule of law, peaceful engagement and the principle of live and let’s live. His approach is to build bridges, not burn them,” the statement added.
The campaign further argued that Obieh’s existing relationships with government officials and stakeholders would be an advantage to the NUJ, rather than a threat to the administration.
It said he would leverage those relationships to deepen engagement with the Governor and attract greater support for journalists and the Council through the administration’s MORE Agenda.
The team therefore urged members of the union to reject what it described as “propaganda, blackmail, character assassination, backstabbing and deliberate attempts to create unnecessary divisions ahead of the election.”
It appealed to NUJ members to focus on the candidates’ past and present records, character, capacity and vision to uplift the union from its present sour state, rather than rumour mongering and political narratives.
The campaign called on journalists to support the STAND-UP Team and vote for Obieh on October 15, stressing that his ambition is centred on strengthening the union, improving representation and safeguarding its collective interests.
“Obieh is not coming to fight the Delta State Government. He is coming to work with the government where necessary, speak for journalists where required, and ensure that the NUJ receives the representation it deserves,” the campaign said.
