The suspension of three members of the Kwara State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) by the National Council of the union has triggered a major crisis in the state.
The three members were suspended by the National Council at its last NEC meeting in Dutse, Jigawa State, on August 11, 2026, for alleged involvement in a court case challenging the outcome of the state council’s controversial election, which installed the current executives led by Abdullateef Ahmed.
At a press conference in Ilorin on Wednesday, organised by some members of the state council in solidarity with the three suspended members, Comrades Adamu Usman Sabi, Mosunmola Ayobami and Dare Akogun, the aggrieved members described the suspension as “a matter of grave concern, not only to the affected journalists but to every member of the NUJ who believes in justice, fairness, due process and the protection of members’ rights.”
“We are not gathered here to undermine the authority of the NUJ or to create further division within our union.
“On the contrary, we are here because we believe strongly in the NUJ and in the principles upon which the union was established. Our position is simple: discipline must be administered fairly, transparently and in accordance with the Constitution and established procedures of the union.
“We are concerned that the decision to suspend the three members was reached without their being accorded the opportunity to defend themselves.
“We are also concerned that, to the best of our understanding, the decision may have been influenced by what we consider to be a misleading presentation of the circumstances surrounding the court case involving the Kwara State Council.
“In particular, we are concerned by the allegation that the council Chairman, Abdulateef ‘Lanre Ahmed, presented the affected members as persons who took the union to court.
“We wish to state that, according to the information available to us, the court action in question was instituted by Fadeyi Babajide of the Federal Information Chapel and the late Saka Laaro of the Correspondents’ Chapel, and not by the three suspended members.
“This is why we are calling for an independent, impartial and transparent investigation to establish the facts surrounding the matter before the suspension is allowed to stand.
“We believe that such a step will not weaken the NUJ. Rather, it will strengthen the credibility of the union and demonstrate that justice, fairness and due process remain fundamental values within our organisation,” the aggrieved members added.
They called on the national leadership to ensure that fair hearing and due process are observed in all disciplinary proceedings and to take concrete steps towards restoring peace, unity and mutual confidence within the state council.
“More importantly, we call on the National President of the NUJ to immediately suspend the Kwara State Council Chairman, Abdulateef ‘Lanre Ahmed, pending an investigation into the role he played in the circumstances that led to the suspension of our members, which has caused serious embarrassment to the union.
“It is our considered position that he should not remain in office while allegations concerning his conduct in the matter are being investigated.
“We believe that history will judge the NUJ not merely by how it defends journalists and promotes justice in society, but also by how it treats its own members when disagreements and internal disputes arise.
“The NUJ cannot effectively preach justice, fairness, accountability and due process to society while allowing those same principles to be compromised within its own ranks,” the members declared, adding that “an injury to one is an injury to all.”
