-> I tried dropping a publication in a transactional replication setup and received below error,

TITLE: Microsoft SQL Server Management Studio

Could not delete publication ‘JBDBREP’.

For help, click: http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink?ProdName=Microsoft%20SQL%20Server&ProdVer=15.0.18338.0&EvtSrc=Microsoft.SqlServer.Management.UI.VSIntegration.ObjectExplorer.Replication.ReplicationMenuItem&EvtID=CantDeletePublication&LinkId=20476

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

An exception occurred while executing a Transact-SQL statement or batch. (Microsoft.SqlServer.ConnectionInfo)

Cannot execute as the database principal because the principal “dbo” does not exist, this type of principal cannot be impersonated, or you do not have permission.
Changed database context to ‘JBDBREPL’. (Microsoft SQL Server, Error: 15517)

For help, click: http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink?ProdName=Microsoft%20SQL%20Server&ProdVer=15.00.2070&EvtSrc=MSSQLServer&EvtID=15517&LinkId=20476

BUTTONS:
OK

-> The error message points to some issue related to owner of the replicated database.

-> Right click the publisher database and click on properties. Click on “Files” tab and check for Owner.

-> In my case I see it blank and this seems to be the problem.

-> I executed below query to change the owner to SA. Instead of SA an appropriate login will also help.

USE [JBDBREPL]
GO
ALTER AUTHORIZATION ON DATABASE::[JBDBREPL] TO [sa]
GO

-> I tried removing the publication and it worked fine this time.

Thank You,
Vivek Janakiraman

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