Caretaker Chairman of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN), Lagos State chapter, Patrick Omorodion, has defended the composition of the chapter’s caretaker and electoral committees, dismissing allegations of women’s marginalisation as unfounded.
Omorodion, a former SWAN National Vice President and former Secretary of the Lagos chapter, said the committees were constituted to restore order, reposition the association and pave the way for a credible, free and fair election.
Appointed by the national leadership on October 9, 2026, following the resignation of acting chairman Aron Akerejola, Omorodion said his emergence was aimed at preventing a leadership vacuum and resolving the lingering crisis within the Lagos chapter.
In a statement, he traced the dispute to the suspension of Olatutu Oladunni, whose first term as chairman had expired but who, according to him, failed to comply with directives from the national leadership on conducting a fresh election in line with established procedures.
He said the caretaker committee subsequently announced an Extraordinary Congress to deliberate on repositioning the association and organising a credible election.
However, Omorodion alleged that Oladunni responded by mobilising a group of women to protest at the Lagos State House of Assembly over claims of marginalisation within the chapter.
Questioning the relevance of the protest to the association’s internal leadership dispute, the caretaker chairman described the allegations as an attempt to attract public sympathy.
He insisted that women had not been excluded from the process, citing their representation on both committees.
“To put the records straight, in the three-man caretaker committee, there is a lady, Anulika Menanya, working with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN),” he said.
He also identified three women on the seven-member SWAN Electoral Committee (SWANECO): Jovita Eke of Wazobia FM, Tega Onajaife of Cool FM and Dr Suo Chapelle of SuperSport.
Omorodion argued that their inclusion contradicted claims that women were being marginalised in efforts to restore stability to the association. He also challenged Oladunni to identify the media organisations represented by the women who participated in the protest.
On the origins of the crisis, Omorodion said the previous national administration, led by former SWAN President Honour Sirawoo, had failed to ensure due process in the circumstances surrounding Oladunni’s emergence as Lagos chapter chairman.
He said the current national leadership, headed by Isaiah Benjamin, had adopted a different approach by insisting on compliance with established procedures.
According to him, tensions escalated when Oladunni rejected the national president’s authority to intervene in the affairs of the Lagos chapter.
He explained that the caretaker committee was established following Oladunni’s suspension and Akerejola’s resignation to ensure continuity and prevent a leadership vacuum.
The former national vice president further alleged that Oladunni attempted to have him removed by reporting him to the management of his employer, Vanguard Media, but that the effort was unsuccessful.
Reflecting on the Extraordinary Congress, the Edo State-born journalist said members and prominent sports journalists attended in significant numbers despite what he described as an attempt to disrupt the meeting through police intervention.
Omorodion, a former board member and spokesperson of the Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF), maintained that the gathering demonstrated members’ determination to rebuild the association and restore its democratic processes.
Beyond the leadership dispute, he raised concerns over the Lagos SWAN secretariat, which he said was built for the association by former Lagos State Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola.
He warned that the caretaker leadership would seek to reclaim the facility when the time came, urging tenants doing business with the current occupants to prepare for a possible change.
Omorodion said he intended to concentrate on his responsibilities rather than continue exchanging accusations over the crisis.
He called on Lagos SWAN members, the national leadership and other stakeholders to support efforts to reposition the chapter and ensure that its affairs were conducted in accordance with due process.
The dispute comes at a critical time for Lagos SWAN, with the caretaker committee expected to guide the chapter towards a fresh election and restore confidence among members.
The allegations and counterclaims surrounding the dispute underscore the need for transparency, adherence to the association’s constitution and an inclusive electoral process that commands the confidence of members.
, Lagos State chapter, Patrick Omorodion, has defended the composition of the chapter’s caretaker and electoral committees, dismissing allegations of women’s marginalisation as unfounded.){kind=link}