Comrade Austin Ozobo, publisher of the Congress Newspaper, has emerged President of the ljaw Publishers Forum (IPF), an umbrella body of publishers from the Ijaw ethnic nationality, in an election that held at the TM Hotel in Warri, Delta State, on Tuesday, December 19, 2023.

Other elected officers include: Mr. Oyinbi Onduku, publisher of Niger Delta Mirror as Vice President; Magbei Tare, publisher of Daily Report Nigeria as Secretary; Mingo Friday, publisher of Egbema Voice as Treasurer; Ezekiel Kagbala, publisher of Focal Point as Public Relations Officer (P.R.O), and Mike Ugedi, publisher of Delta Event TV as Financial Secretary.

The elected officials were returned unopposed by the Electoral Committee Chairman, Pst Arex Akemotubo, publisher of Waffi TV, in company of the Eleco Secretary, Comr. Tamaraupreye Ekpegha, publisher of South South Daily.

According to the Eleco Chairman, out of the eight positions vied for, only two positions remain vacant: the assistant secretary and the organising secretary.

Speaking on behalf of the elected executives, Comr. Ozobo thanked the Eleco Committee for conducting a peaceful, free, fair and credible election and gave assurance that they will pilot the IPF body to greater heights.

In his words, "I want to assure IPF that the two years we are going to pilot the affair of this organization, we will do our best to move this organization forward.

"Everybody will be carried along and we will respect every organ of this administration. Nobody will be abused, nobody will be intimidated. Everything we are going to do will be transparent. After two years we all will be proud that we have left a legacy behind," he added.

The IPF President also called for synergy between stakeholders, leaders, government at all levels, multinational oil companies among others to continue to promote peace, security and development of the Niger Delta region.

While congratulating those elected on the platform of IPF, the Brand Director of PENGlobal, Mr. Abai Francis called on all members of the Forum to join hands together with the exco members as the task of lifting the Forum is not only the duty of elected officers.

Meanwhile, the official inauguration of the newly elected IPF executive members will be announced later.

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