A fresh crisis appears to be brewing in the Kwara State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) as the Correspondents’ Chapel has suspended all forms of relationship with the state leadership of the union.
The decision was reached at the chapel’s monthly congress held on March 26, 2026, at its secretariat, and conveyed in a communiqué jointly signed by the Chairman, Biola Azeez, and Secretary, Mosunmola Ayobami.
According to the communiqué, the suspension takes immediate effect and is aimed at protecting the integrity of the chapel’s leadership and members amid the ongoing dispute with the state council.
The congress also resolved to boycott all press conferences and media-related activities organised by the NUJ Kwara State Council until further notice.
The chapel attributed its decision to the refusal of the state council to recognise its leadership, which it said emerged from a constitutional and widely accepted election held on November 1, 2025, followed by the inauguration of its executives.
It further noted that several attempts to resolve the lingering crisis had failed to yield positive results. These efforts, it said, included interventions by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, the Counsellor to the Governor, the national leadership of the NUJ, and other well-meaning stakeholders.
The communiqué also pointed to what it described as the actions and disposition of the Chairman and Secretary of the NUJ Kwara State Council as a major source of the strained relationship.
Despite the crisis, the chapel commended members of the union who have shown solidarity and support, describing it as overwhelming in the face of the situation.
As part of measures to strengthen its internal structure, the congress approved the inauguration of committees, including the News Keg Committee and the 2026 Press Week Committee.
The News Keg Committee, chaired by Ibrahim Alege, is expected to organise regular engagements with newsmakers and generate editorial content, while the Press Week Committee will coordinate activities for the chapel’s 2026 press week.
