By Ken Kene, Makurdi

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Twelve chapels of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, Benue State Council have passed a vote of confidence on Governor Hyacinth Iormem Alia while condemning remarks by his Chief Press Secretary, Tersoo Kula, that he has “no dealings with the local media.”

The resolution was contained in a communiqué issued Monday, June 22, 2026, at the end of a meeting of concerned chapels held in Makurdi.

The meeting reviewed the state of the council and relations between government and the media.

The chapels “x-rayed the administration of His Excellency, Rev. Fr. Dr. Hyacinth Iormem Alia, Executive Governor of Benue State, and gave him a clean bill of health,” the communiqué stated.

They appreciated the governor for “the good relationship with the media” and for acknowledging the developmental role of local media. The chapels urged Gov. Alia to “sustain the tempo of work.”

However, the meeting expressed disappointment over the statement credited to Tersoo Kula, saying it “does not reflect the perception of the governor on the importance of the home media to the contributions for development of the state.”

The chapels praised the “cordial rapport” between the Technical Adviser on Media, Publicity and Strategic Communications, Chief Solomon Iorpev, and Principal Special Assistants Donald Kumun (Print), Bridget Tivkyaa (Media Publicity and Strategic Communications), and Isaac Uzaan (Media and Content Creation), calling for its sustainability.

On internal crisis, the chapels aligned with the June 15, 2026 Congress decision that exonerated Council Chairman, Comrade Bemdoo Ugber, of financial impropriety allegations raised by the Correspondents’ Chapel after his explanation.

They “dared the Correspondents’ Chapel to a referendum” to test “the potency and efficacy of their despicable outings” where they insisted the NUJ Benue leadership must be dismantled.

The meeting also demanded that NUJ immediately publish the report of its membership screening to “fish out unqualified elements” in line with the union’s constitution. It insisted the state council “should not be intimidated to abandon its avowed practice of determining who qualifies to practice in accordance with the highest professional and ethical standards.”

The communiqué was signed by the Communique Drafting Committee: Comrade Mhii Sam-Selumun, Chairman; Comrade Paku Charles