Court Restrains NUJ Delta Council From Conducting Chapel Election

A High Court sitting in Oleh Judicial Division has restrained the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Delta State Council from conducting election of Officers into the State Information Chapel of the union.

This followed a suit filed by Comrade Joseph Egbadju and Comrade Victor Eyagobor of the Information Chapel.

Granting the order of interlocutory injunction as filed in the Exparte Motion, Justice C. O. Emefoniye, ordered the defendants, Comrade Michael Ikeogwu, Churchill Oyowe, Patrick Ochei, Celestine Afokoba and Samuel Erhumwense all Executives of the NUJ, Delta State Council, their agents, privies or servants from conducting or interfering with the process of conducting the election of Officers into the State Information Chapel.

In suit No HCO\M\9\2019, the claimants filed originating summons and Exparte motion against the defendants seeking the court to, among others, interpret Article 6(6) of the NUJ constitution as to the body that has the power to conduct elections into the various offices of the State Information Chapel.

The claimants are also asking the court for a declaration that the Information Chapel of the Delta State Council of the NUJ reserves the exclusive right to constitute her Credentials Committee to conduct elections into vacant positions of the Chapel, and that the Supervisory role conferred on the State Working Committee of the NUJ does not include the power to set up a Credentials Committee to conduct elections for the Information Chapel of the Union in Delta State.

The suit arose from the dissolution of the Information Chapel Credentials Committee by the State Council executive of the NUJ Delta State Council via a letter dated 10th July, 2019 addressed to all members of the NUJ, and the purported suspension of the Committee members from the activities of the Union.

The claimants are challenging the validity of the purported dissolution and unconditional usurpation of the powers of the State Information Chapel Credentials Committee to conduct elections into vacant positions in the State Information Chapel.