WARRI/Nigeria: Tension has erupted within the Delta State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) as members of the Warri Correspondents’ Chapel passed a vote of no confidence on the State Council Chairman, Comrade Churchill Oyowe, over alleged unconstitutional actions ahead of the chapel’s forthcoming election.
The decision was taken during an emergency congress of the chapel convened to deliberate on recent developments surrounding the conduct of the chapel’s election scheduled for Monday, March 16, 2026.
In a communiqué issued at the end of the meeting, members expressed grave concern over what they described as actions by the state chairman that were inconsistent with the provisions of the NUJ Constitution 2023 (Amended), which he swore to uphold upon assuming office.
The Warri Correspondents’ Chapel, established over three decades ago to accommodate journalists practicing in Warri and its environs, said it has maintained a peaceful and stable union structure with 32 qualified practicing members. According to the chapel, the last admission of new members was conducted over 13 years ago, and the body has managed its affairs successfully without rancour.
However, members said they were alarmed by the alleged unilateral decision of the state chairman to delist some members from the voters’ register for the chapel’s election, describing the action as a clear violation of Article 3:3(g) of the NUJ Constitution.
The congress also accused the chairman of running the administration of the state secretariat as a personal estate, alleging that critical decisions affecting members of the council and its chapels were taken without consultation with other members of the State Working Committee, contrary to Article 5:D(e) of the NUJ Constitution.
Members specifically cited the decision to delist and excommunicate some eligible members as well as the chairman’s response to the report of the 2026 Credentials Committee dated March 8, 2026, titled “Re: Approved Date for Warri Correspondents’ Chapel Election and Resolution of Petitions,” which they said was signed against the advice of the Acting State Secretary.
The chapel further condemned the removal of some qualified members who are correspondents working with online media organisations, arguing that the action contravenes Section 3:2(a) of the NUJ Constitution (2023 as amended).
The congress also alleged that the state council chairman disregarded constitutional provisions by denying voting rights to members practicing outside the physical location of their media organisations, an action they said violates Article 5(F3) of the union’s constitution.
Members insisted that the forthcoming chapel election is not a screening exercise and therefore no individual, including the state council chairman, has the constitutional authority to determine the eligibility of members to vote or participate in the electoral process.
They reaffirmed that the role of the state council leadership, as stipulated in Article 6:6 of the NUJ Constitution, is limited to supervising the electoral process and not determining the eligibility of members.
Consequently, the congress passed a vote of no confidence on Comrade Oyowe over what it described as actions capable of undermining democratic principles within the union.
The motion for the vote of no confidence was moved by Comrade Joe Ogbodu, correspondent of The Sun Newspaper, and seconded by Comrade Emma Arubi, with the resolution unanimously adopted by the 21 members present at the congress.
The chapel therefore called on the NUJ Delta State Council Chairman to immediately step aside, resign, or face impeachment in line with the provisions of the NUJ Constitution for allegedly failing to uphold the constitution he swore to defend.
The congress also appealed to the national secretariat of the NUJ to urgently intervene in the matter by ensuring that Comrade Oyowe does not supervise the Warri Correspondents’ Chapel election, noting that a similar situation reportedly occurred during the Ughelli Correspondents’ Chapel election.
According to the chapel, it would be willing to cooperate with any other individuals or team delegated by the State Working Committee to supervise the election in line with constitutional provisions.
Members also urged the national secretariat to prevail on the Delta State Working Committee to immediately reinstate all members who were delisted or excommunicated from the chapel so they can participate fully in the forthcoming election.
They further demanded that those who were allegedly disqualified from contesting elective positions be cleared to run for the various offices.
While reaffirming its commitment to the rule of law, press freedom and democratic principles within the NUJ, the chapel commended the national secretariat for what it described as its consistent efforts in upholding and defending the constitution of the union.
The communiqué was signed by the Chairman of the Communiqué Drafting Committee, Comrade Joe Ogbodu; Secretary of the committee, Comrade Onyeka Meleuwa; member, Comrade Sunny Ariegwe; as well as the Chairman of the Warri Correspondents’ Chapel, Comrade Victor Okpomor, and the chapel’s Secretary, Comrade Edeki Igafe.
