The State Working Committee (SWC) of the Delta State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) has passed a vote of no confidence on the State Council Chairman, Comrade Churchill Oyowe, following his disqualification of two candidates ahead of the Warri Correspondents’ Chapel election.

The SWC in a statement at the weekend disowned Oyowe’s directive, describing it as “unilateral, high-handed, and an abuse of office.”

The development followed the reported disqualification of Comrade Onyekachukwu Meluwa, an aspirant for the position of treasurer, and Comrade Success, an auditor candidate, ahead of the election scheduled for Monday, March 16, 2026.

According to the statement, the SWC met on March 14, 2026, acting in compliance with a directive from the National Secretariat conveyed in a letter dated March 12, 2026, to review the eligibility of the three candidates contesting for the chairmanship position.

The committee said all the aspirants were cleared to participate in the election and stressed that all 32 members of the Warri Correspondents’ Chapel are eligible to vote.

“No petitions concerning the chairmanship aspirants were entertained during the meeting, as relevant issues, particularly those relating to membership of the Chapel, had already been conclusively addressed by the National Secretariat,” the SWC said.

The committee cautioned members against being misled by communications issued solely by Oyowe, noting that such correspondence does not represent the collective position of the SWC.

Vice Chairman of the SWC, Comrade Felix Ekwu, said the committee’s priority was to ensure a transparent, orderly, and fair election.

“We disown any attempt to mislead members with unilateral directives. The actions of the State Chairman have compelled us to pass a vote of no confidence in him,” Ekwu said.

The SWC urged members to conduct themselves peacefully and professionally during the election and reaffirmed its alignment with the directives of the National Secretariat regarding the conduct of the poll.

The statement was jointly signed by Comrade Felix Ekwu (vice chairman), Comrade Josephine Omodior (acting secretary), Comrade Caroline Ubini (treasurer), Comrade Celestine Afokobah (Auditor), and Comrade Christian Eze (ex-officio, SWAN), with copies forwarded to the national secretariat and the zonal vice president/secretary, Zone F.