By Nsan Ndoma-Neji, Calabar
The Cross River State council of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, yesterday elected Comrade Gregory Ulayi as the new state chairman of the congress.
Ulayi, a staunch member of the Nigeria Union of Teachers, NUT, is now the new NLC chairman in Cross River State, after defeating the outgoing chairman, Comrade Ben Ukpepi in a keenly contested poll.
Recall that Ukpepi did not enjoy the comfort associated with the office as he was kidnapped two times by men of the underworld and kept outside the comfort of his home and office by his abductors with undisclosed amount paid as ransome.
Ulayi emerged as new Chairman after defeating Ukpepi in an election which held at the Kolanut Centre, Barracks Road, Calabar, where delegates that made up the congress exercise thier franchise.
Speaking while declaring Ulayi as winner, the Returning Officer and NLC national official from the NLC national secretariat, Abuja, Comrade Benson Ukpah, sued for peace and unity among congress members, stressing that in the election there was no victor nor vanquished, adding that all the candidates were winners.
Ukpah said, “Out of 528 votes cast, Comrade Ukpepi polled 139 votes, while Ulayi garnered 339 votes.”
In his post-election speech, the new NLC state chairman, Comrade Ulayi assured the congress members of an inclusive government, promising to carry everyone along.
Ulayi pledged not to betray the confidence reposed in him, stressing, “I shall operate and open door policy, where the inputs of congress members would not be taken for granted.I promise to carry everyone along for the good of the congress. In unity we would excel and surmount all the challenges faced by members.”
