…As Correspondents’ Chapel suspends relationship with Council

The leadership and members of the Correspondents’ Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Kwara State Council have announced the suspension of all forms of relationship with the Kwara State Council of the union with immediate effect.

In a communique issued at the end of the Chapel’s monthly congress at the Chapel Secretariat in Ilorin, the state capital, members of the Chapel said that the decision was taken as a necessary measure to protect the integrity of the leadership and members of the Chapel.

The communique, signed by the Chapel Chairman and Secretary, ‘Biola Azeez and Mosunmola Ayobami, respectively, said that the Congress further resolved to boycott all press conferences and media-related activities organised by the State Council of the NUJ until further notice.

The communique emphasised that the decision was also taken based on the stand of the State Council of the NUJ not to recognise the leadership of the Correspondents’ Chapel after a constitutional and widely accepted Chapel election of November 1, 2025 and inauguration of the Chapel executive committee.

The communique, which recalled that several efforts had been made to resolve the lingering issues surrounding the election of the new Executives of the Correspondents’ Chapel, said that the efforts included intervention of the Chief Press Secretary (CPS) to the Governor, Counsellor to the Governor, the national leadership of the NUJ, and other well-meaning individuals, “that yielded no positive outcome”.

The communique reads: “Following
extensive deliberations at its Congress held on March 26, 2026, members of the Correspondents’ Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Kwara State Chapter, resolved as follows:

“Suspension of Relationship:
Congress unanimously resolved to suspend all forms of relationship with the Kwara State Council of the NUJ with immediate effect.

This decision was taken as a necessary measure to protect integrity of the chapel leadership and members, especially, on the decision not to recognize leadership of the Correspondents’ chapel by the leadership of the state council of NUJ after a constitutional and widely accepted election of November 1, 2025 and inauguration of the chapel exco.

The congress acknowledged that several efforts had been made to resolve the lingering issues surrounding the election of the new Executives of the Correspondents’ Chapel.

These efforts included intervention of the Chief Press Secretary (CPS) to the Governor, Counsellor to the governor, the national leadership of the NUJ, and other well-meaning individuals, that yielded no positive outcome.

The congress observed that the strained relationship largely stems from the actions and disposition of the Chairman of the NUJ Kwara State Council, and the Secretary.

Congress commended the overwhelming majority of NUJ members who have shown solidarity and support for the Correspondents’ Chapel in the face of what was described as the overbearing attitude of the Council leadership.

Congress further resolved to boycott all press conferences and media-related activities organised by the NUJ until further notice.

To strengthen its operations, Congress approved the inauguration of the following committees:
a. News Keg Committee
Mandate: To organise regular engagements with newsmakers and generate editorial content for the Chapel and its members.

Ibrahim Alege (Chairman)
Deacon Demola Akinyemi
Mallam Garba Abdulhakeem
Hameed Shittu
Bushrat Badmus
b. Press Week Committee (2026 Edition)
Mandate: To organise a successful 2026 Press Week.

Mallam Garba Abdulhakeem
Balogun Arisekola
Ibrahim Alege
Nicholas Uwerunonye