Members of NUJ Warri after a successful Emergency Congress held at the Secretariat on Wednesday
By Samuel Ogude
Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, Warri Correspondents’ Chapel has unanimously passed a vote of no Confidence on the Delta State Council Chairman of NUJ, Comrade Churchill Oyowe for gross misconduct and contravening the constitution of the Union. This was sequel to the communique issued on Wednesday, 11th March, 2026 at the end of its emergency Congress held at the Union’s Secretariat,3 Eburu Street off Deco Road, Okumagba Layout Warri, Delta State.
According to Communique which its Drafting Committee was Chaired by Comrade Joe Ogbodu, Comrade Onyeka Meleuwa , Secretary and Comrade Sunny Ariegwe ,-Member and signed by Comrade Victor Okpomor Chairman, Warri Correspondents’ Chapel , Comrade Edeki Igafe Secretary, respectively, the Union observed with grave concern over unconstitutional actions and conduct exhibited by the State Council Chairman, Comrade Churchill Oyowe, which were inconsistent with the provisions of the NUJ Constitution 2023 (Amended) he swore to uphold.
According to the Union, the State Chairman unilaterally took the decision to unjustly disenfranchised some members by delisting them from the voters’ list of the Chapel’s election scheduled to hold on March 16, 2026 thereby contravening Article 3 :3(g). The Union said, Comrade Churchill Oyowe runs the State Council as his personal estate as critical decisions affecting members of the council, including chapels, are taken without recourse to other members of the SWC thereby contravening Article 5: D (e) of the NUJ Constitution 2023 (Amended).
Members on Serious Deliberations on Wednesday
Part of the statement reads:” After exhaustive deliberations, members of the Chapel expressed grave concern over what they described as unconstitutional actions and conduct exhibited by the State Council Chairman, Comrade Churchill Oyowe, which were inconsistent with the provisions of the NUJ Constitution 2023 (Amended) he swore to uphold.” The Congress said for the avoidance of doubt, the recent decision single handedly taken by the Chairman to delist and excommunicate some eligible members of the Union at Warri Chapel and his response to the report of the 2026 Credentials Committee dated 8th March, 2026 titled; “Reapproved Date For Warri Correspondents’ Chapel Election and Resolution of Petitions “as the letter was signed by the Chairman against the advice of the Acting State Secretary.
The Chapel added that Comrade Oyowe has disregarded the provision of the Constitution by denying members who are plying their trade outside the location of their establishment, thereby violating Article 5: (F3) of the NUJ Constitution (As Amended). Part of the statement reads:” The Chapel was taken aback when the State Chairman, took an ignoble step to delist qualified members who are online Correspondents working for different online media organizations, thereby running foul of Section 3:2(a) NUJ Constitution 2023 (Amended).”
According to the statement, members maintained that an election is not a screening exercise, and therefore no individual, including the State Council Chairman, has the constitutional authority to screen members of the Union ahead of the March 16, 2026, of the Warri Correspondents’ Chapel’s election as his actions amount to the changing the goal-post in the middle of the game. Although, the Union reaffirmed its recognition of the role of the State Council leadership as limited to supervising the electoral process but not to determine the eligibility of members to vote or participate in election in line with Article 6: 6.
Members on Serious Deliberations on Wednesday
The Union said, based on the obvious violation of the NUJ Constitution 2023 (as Amended) by the Chairman of the Delta State Council, a – 21 member congress unanimously passed a vote of no confidence on the State Council Chairman, Comrade Churchill Oyowe as this was sequel to the motion moved by Comrade Joe Ogbodu, Correspondent of The Sun Newspaper, and seconded by Comrade Emma Arubi adding that, based on this, Comrade Churchill Oyowe is hereby called upon to immediately step aside, resign, or faces impeachment in line with the provisions of the NUJ Constitution for failing to uphold the constitution of the NUJ that he swore to defend.
As a result of this development, the National Secretariat of the NUJ should urgently intervene by asking Comrade Oyowe not to supervise the election by himself as he did in Ughelli Correspondents’ Chapel election rather send any other individuals or group from the State Working Committee to supervise the election as the chapel is willing to cooperate in all respects with whoever or group sent in this regard. The Chapel appeals to the National Secretariat to prevail on the Delta State Working Committee to immediately reinstate all members delisted and excommunicated from the Chapel to enable them vote or be voted in the forthcoming election.
The Union asked that those who were unlawfully disqualified from running for the election be cleared to contest for their various positions just it said Chapel remained irrevocably committed to defending the rule of law, press freedom, members’ rights and democratic principles within the Nigerian Union of Journalists and therefore commended the National Secretariat for always upholding and defending the Constitution of the NUJ.
It should be noted that Union said Warri Correspondents’ Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) was formed over three decades ago to accommodate journalists who are practising within Warri and its environ. Members of the union have coexisted for these period and have no cause for concern. The Chapel has 32 qualified practising membership. The Chapel had her last admission of members over 13 years ago and had successful pilot its affairs without rancor.
Members of NUJ Warri Correspondents’ Chapel Jubilating after a successful Emergency Meeting held on Wednesday. Happy Viewing