… Calls on Oyowe to step aside, resign or face impeachment
By Ovasa Ogaga,
The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Warri Correspondents’ Chapel has passed a vote of no confidence on the Chairman of the NUJ Delta State Council, Churchill Oyowe, accusing him of violating provisions of the union’s constitution and undermining the democratic process ahead of the chapel’s election scheduled for March 16, 2026.
The decision was reached during an emergency congress of the chapel held on March 11, 2026, in Warri, Delta State, where members deliberated on what they described as unconstitutional actions taken by the state chairman concerning the conduct of the forthcoming chapel election.
In a communiqué issued at the end of the meeting, members expressed “grave concern” over what they described as actions by Oyowe that were inconsistent with the provisions of the NUJ Constitution 2023 (Amended), which he had sworn to uphold.
The communiqué was signed by Joe Ogbodu, Chairman of the Communiqué Drafting Committee; Onyeka Meleuwa, Secretary; Sunny Ariegwe, member; as well as the chapel leadership comprising Victor Okpomor, Chairman of the Warri Correspondents’ Chapel, and Edeki Igafe, Secretary.
The chapel alleged that the state chairman unilaterally delisted some members from the voters’ register for the March 16 election, a move it said contravenes Article 3:3(g) of the constitution. According to the communiqué, the decision effectively disenfranchised eligible members of the union.
Members also accused the chairman of running the state council secretariat “as his personal estate,” alleging that major decisions affecting chapels and members were taken without consultation with other members of the State Working Committee, contrary to Article 5:D(e) of the constitution.
Particularly troubling to the congress, the communiqué said, was the decision to delist qualified journalists who are online correspondents working for various digital media platforms, a move the chapel argued violates Section 3:2(a) of the NUJ Constitution, which recognises such practitioners as legitimate members of the union.
The chapel further accused the state chairman of disregarding constitutional provisions by denying participation to members who practice journalism outside the immediate location of their organisations, thereby allegedly breaching Article 5(F3) of the constitution.
“An election is not a screening exercise,” members declared during the congress, stressing that no individual, including the state chairman, has the authority to screen members of the union ahead of the chapel election.
They reaffirmed that under Article 6:6 of the constitution, the role of the state council leadership in chapel elections is limited strictly to supervising the electoral process and not determining the eligibility of members to vote or contest.
Consequently, the congress unanimously adopted a motion of no confidence against Oyowe for what it described as obvious constitutional violations. The motion was moved by Joe Ogbodu, correspondent of The Sun Newspaper, and seconded by Emma Arubi, with the 21 members present voting in support.
The Warri Correspondents’ Chapel also called on Oyowe to immediately step aside, resign or face impeachment in line with the provisions of the NUJ constitution for allegedly failing to uphold the oath of office he took as chairman.
In addition, the chapel urged the national secretariat of the NUJ to intervene urgently and prevent Oyowe from supervising the March 16 election. Members said they would cooperate with any other representatives from the State Working Committee assigned to oversee the process.
The congress further demanded the immediate reinstatement of all members who were delisted or excommunicated from the chapel, insisting that they must be allowed to vote and be voted for in the forthcoming election.
It also called for the clearance of all candidates who were allegedly disqualified from contesting elective positions in the chapel.
Reaffirming its commitment to democratic principles, the Warri Correspondents’ Chapel said it remains “irrevocably committed to defending the rule of law, press freedom, members’ rights and democratic values within the NUJ.”
