Constitutional Breaches: NUJ Warri Correspondents Passes Vote of No Confidence on Delta NUJ Council Chairman Oyowe, Calls for his Resignation

The Warri Correspondents’ Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), has accused the NUJ Delta State Council Chairman, Comrade Churchill Oyowe, of constitutional breaches, calling for his immediate resignation from office.

The chapel, however passed a vote of no confidence on Oyowe over actions considered unconstitutional and prejudicial to the democratic process of the Union.

This was contained in a communique issued after an emergency meeting of the chapel held at the Chief Government Ekpemupolo Chapel Secretariat to deliberate on recent developments concerning the conduct of its forthcoming election slated for Monday, March 16, 2026.

Oyowe purportedly incurred the wrath of the union following a letter to the Chapel’s Election Credentials Committee dated 8th March, 2026 titled; “Re:Approved Date For Warri Correspondents’ Chapel Election and Resolution of Petitions.” where he unilaterally delisted long-serving members of the chapel.

The development, according to the chapel is an unconstitutional act inconsistent with the provisions of the NUJ Constitution 2023 (as Amended) which he swore to uphold.

The Communique, jointly signed by Comrade Joe Ogbodu, Chairman, Communique Drafting Committee, Comrade Onyeka Meleuwa, Secretary, and Comrade Sunny Ariegwe as Member as well as Comrade Victor Okpomor, Chairman, Warri Correspondents’ Chapel, Comrade Edeki Igafe Secretary, respectively, emanated from the meeting attended by 21 members out of 32 Chapel members.

The State NUJ Chairman, according to the communiqué 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) of the NUJ constitution.

The Chapel, also accused Oyowe of allegedly running the administration of the State Secretariat 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).

The communique held that the ignoble step by Comrade Oyowe to delist qualified members who are online Correspondents working for different online media organizations, runs foul of Section 3:2(a) NUJ Constitution 2023 (Amended).

The development which they said could affect the election of current leadership of NUJ at the national level, is currently causing rancour in the Chapel which had her last admission of members over 13 years ago.

Oyowe, was also accused of disregarding 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).

The communique held 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. It liked the situation to “changing the goal-post in the middle of the game”.

“Congress reaffirms its recognition of the role of the State Council leadership as limited to supervising the electoral process, not determining the eligibility of members to vote or participate in line with Article 6: 6

“Based on the obvious violation of the NUJ Constitution 2023 (as Amended) by the Chairman of the Delta State Council, the Chapel consequently, pass a vote of no confidence on the State Council Chairman, Comrade Churchill Oyowe,.

“The motion was moved by Comrade Joe Ogbodu, Correspondent of The Sun Newspaper, and seconded by Cmrade Emma Arubi. The vote of no confidence was unanimously adopted by the 21 members present at the congress.

“That the Warri Correspondents’ Chapel passes a vote of no confidence on the NUJ Delta State Council Chairman, Comrade Churchill Oyowe, over actions considered unconstitutional and prejudicial to the democratic process of the Union.

“That Comrade Churchill Oyowe is hereby called upon to immediately step aside, resign, or face impeachment in line with the provisions of the NUJ Constitution for failing to uphold the constitution of the NUJ that he swore to defend.

“That 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. The Chapel will be willing to cooperate with any other individuals or group of individuals sent from the State Working Committee to supervise the election.

“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.

That those who were unlawfully disqualified from running for the election be cleared to contest for their various positions.

“That the Warri Correspondents’ Chapel remains irrevocably committed to defending the rule of law, press freedom, members’ rights and democratic principles within the Nigerian Union of Journalists.

“The Chapel commends the National Secretariat for always upholding and defending the Constitution of the NUJ”.