*Chapter disputes Patrick Omorodion-led committee’s authority, insists elected executive’s tenure runs until October 2028
The Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN), Lagos State Chapter, has rejected the caretaker committee announced by the Association’s National Secretariat, insisting that the appointment cannot override the mandate of its elected executive without a clear constitutional basis.
In a statement signed by Ambassador Olatutu Oladunni, Chairman of the Lagos State Chapter, and Omotunde Bello, Secretary, the chapter challenged the National Executive Council (NEC) to identify the provisions of the SWAN Constitution authorising it to replace a serving elected executive with a caretaker committee.
The dispute follows a press release issued by the SWAN National Secretariat on 14 October 2026 announcing a three-man caretaker committee to oversee the affairs of the Lagos chapter.
The Oladunni-led executive maintains that it remains the duly elected leadership of the chapter, having emerged from an election conducted by the SWAN Electoral Committee (SWANECO) on 9 October 2025 at the Association’s secretariat, National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos.
According to the statement, the elected officers were subsequently sworn into office for a three-year tenure scheduled to expire in October 2028.
The chapter argued that the national leadership’s announcement did not, in itself, establish that the existing executive had been lawfully removed, suspended or otherwise displaced in accordance with the Association’s governing rules.
It therefore demanded a written explanation of the constitutional provisions and procedures relied upon to justify the caretaker committee’s appointment.
The chapter also called for disclosure of the relevant NEC resolution, including the date of the meeting at which the decision was taken and the procedures followed, subject to legitimate confidentiality requirements.
Lagos SWAN Questions NEC’s Powers
The statement maintained that the National Executive Council, including the National President and Secretary-General, must exercise its powers within the limits prescribed by the SWAN Constitution.
It asked the national leadership to clarify whether the elected officers had been given notice of any allegations against them, an opportunity to respond and access to any applicable disciplinary or dispute-resolution process before the caretaker committee was announced.
“The mere announcement of a caretaker committee does not, by itself, establish the constitutional power to displace an elected executive,” the chapter stated.
It called on National President Isaiah Benjamin and members of the NEC to suspend the implementation of the disputed appointment pending a transparent determination of the matter under the Association’s governing instruments.
The chapter further warned against any action that could undermine the electoral rights of members or establish a precedent for replacing elected state executives through administrative announcements.
Committee’s Authority Over Chapter Affairs Disputed
The Lagos executive also challenged the caretaker committee’s authority to undertake administrative functions relating to chapter property, inventories, membership records, reconciliation of members and electoral arrangements.
It argued that assigning such responsibilities to the committee did not automatically confer the constitutional authority to exercise them over the objection of the elected leadership.
The chapter urged the committee members—Patrick Omorodion, Oni Afolabi and Anulika Menanya—to refrain from representing themselves as the lawful governing authority of Lagos SWAN or exercising disputed powers until the constitutional basis of their appointment had been established.
It added that any transfer of chapter property, financial records, official documents, passwords or other assets must be supported by lawful authority and conducted through a transparent, properly documented process.
The statement stressed that the chapter remained committed to protecting SWAN’s property and records but would resist any attempt to use administrative stabilisation or asset recovery as a substitute for establishing the committee’s legitimacy.
Chapter Disputes Proposed October 23 Congress
The Oladunni-led executive also challenged the authority of the purported caretaker committee to convene a Lagos SWAN congress reportedly scheduled for Friday, 23 October 2026.
It said the validity of any congress must be determined by the Association’s constitutional provisions, including requirements relating to the authority to convene meetings, notice, membership eligibility, quorum and prescribed procedures.
The chapter called on members to verify the constitutional authority for the proposed gathering before participating in proceedings purportedly conducted on behalf of Lagos SWAN.
It clarified that its position was not intended to prevent lawful participation in the Association’s affairs but to ensure that any congress was convened and conducted in accordance with the applicable rules.
Lagos SWAN Lists Demands
Among its demands, the chapter called on the National Secretariat to provide the constitutional basis for the caretaker committee’s appointment, disclose the relevant NEC resolution and suspend implementation of the decision pending a proper determination of the dispute.
It also reserved the right to pursue remedies available under the SWAN Constitution and applicable law to protect what it described as the electoral mandate, organisational interests, property and lawful administration of the Lagos chapter.
The executive urged members to remain calm, uphold professional discipline and avoid actions capable of escalating the dispute or disrupting the Association’s activities.
The statement emphasised that national supervisory powers, where provided for under the Constitution, must be exercised within their prescribed limits and should not be interpreted as an unrestricted authority to replace elected state officers.
“If the National Secretariat believes that there are outstanding administrative issues in Lagos SWAN, it should identify those issues, disclose the applicable constitutional provisions and pursue a lawful resolution that respects the rights of all affected members,” the statement said.
The chapter maintained that Ambassador Oladunni remained the chairman of the elected executive, whose tenure it said runs until October 2028, unless lawfully affected through a constitutionally authorised process.
It said it was prepared to pursue the matter through SWAN’s prescribed dispute-resolution mechanisms and, if necessary, before a court of competent jurisdiction.
The statement called on the National Secretariat to reconsider its position, suspend implementation of the caretaker committee and engage the elected Lagos executive through the appropriate constitutional channels.