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The Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) has constituted a three-man caretaker committee to oversee the affairs of its Lagos State Chapter for an initial period of three months, with a mandate to address outstanding administrative issues, recover chapter assets, promote reconciliation among members and prepare the ground for fresh elections.
The committee, approved by the association’s National Executive Council (NEC), will be chaired by experienced sports journalist Patrick Omorodion. Other members are Oni Afolabi, who will serve as secretary, and Anulika Menanya. Blueprint reports
The development was announced in a statement issued by SWAN President Isaiah Benjamin through the association’s Secretary-General, Amb. Ikenna Okonkwo, on Wednesday, October 14, 2026.
The caretaker arrangement is intended to provide administrative direction for the Lagos State Chapter while the national leadership works towards resolving its outstanding issues and creating the conditions for a smooth transition to an elected executive.
According to the statement, the committee’s responsibilities will extend beyond the day-to-day administration of the chapter to include asset recovery, proper documentation, membership verification, reconciliation and preparations for the establishment of an electoral committee.
Committee to address administrative challenges
The constitution of the caretaker committee represents an intervention by SWAN’s national leadership to address administrative concerns in the Lagos State Chapter and strengthen the association’s operations at the state level.
The committee is expected to work within its three-month mandate to identify issues requiring attention, improve administrative coordination and establish a framework for the chapter’s return to an elected leadership.
Its assignment will involve collaboration with the National Secretariat, which is expected to receive regular reports on the committee’s activities and progress in implementing the directives of the NEC.
The national leadership has also emphasised the need for transparency and impartiality in the discharge of the committee’s responsibilities, particularly as it works to reconcile members and prepare for the forthcoming election.
The three-month period provides a defined timeframe for the caretaker committee to carry out its responsibilities, although the statement did not indicate a specific date for the proposed election.
Asset recovery, inventory take centre stage
One of the committee’s major responsibilities is to identify and recover properties and official assets belonging to the Lagos State Chapter.
Under the directive, the committee is expected to establish proper records of all recovered items and submit an inventory to the National Secretariat. This requirement is intended to ensure that the chapter’s assets are accounted for and that the national leadership has an accurate record of the property under its control.
The committee will also be responsible for ensuring that relevant administrative records and documents are properly organised and preserved for eventual handover to the duly elected executive.
The exercise is significant to the transition process because the incoming leadership will require accurate information on the chapter’s assets, records and administrative responsibilities to enable it to assume office without avoidable disruptions.
By placing asset recovery and documentation among the committee’s core duties, SWAN’s NEC has made accountability an important component of the caretaker arrangement.
The statement, however, did not identify the specific properties or assets to be recovered, nor did it provide details of their present status.
Reconciliation and unity among members
Beyond administrative and property-related responsibilities, the caretaker committee has been mandated to promote reconciliation and strengthen relationships among members of the Lagos State Chapter.
The assignment places emphasis on restoring cooperation within the chapter and encouraging members to work together in the collective interest of the association.
The national leadership considers stability within the Lagos chapter important to SWAN’s broader objectives of professional unity and the effective representation of sports journalists.
The committee is therefore expected to engage with members and support efforts to rebuild confidence in the chapter’s administration while ensuring that its activities are guided by fairness and the association’s established rules.
Reconciliation is also relevant to preparations for the forthcoming election, as a credible electoral process requires an orderly administrative environment and clear procedures for determining membership eligibility.
Although the statement did not specify the nature of the disagreements or administrative issues requiring resolution, it identified reconciliation and improved relationships as central elements of the committee’s assignment.
Membership register to be reviewed ahead of election
Another key responsibility is the review and verification of the Lagos State Chapter’s membership register in collaboration with the National Secretariat.
The exercise is expected to establish accurate membership records ahead of the forthcoming election and help ensure that the electoral process is conducted in accordance with SWAN’s statutes and guidelines.
The verification process will form part of the administrative preparations required before the chapter can proceed to elect a new executive.
An accurate register is particularly important during elections because it provides the basis for identifying eligible members and organising the voting process in line with the association’s established procedures.
The caretaker committee is expected to work with the National Secretariat to review the available records, verify membership details and ensure that the register is properly documented.
The statement did not provide a timeline for completing the verification exercise, but the responsibility forms part of the committee’s three-month mandate.
SWANECO formation subject to NEC approval
As part of the electoral preparations, the committee will facilitate arrangements for establishing the Lagos State SWAN Electoral Committee, popularly known as SWANECO.
The proposed electoral committee will be responsible for the relevant election-related processes in line with the association’s statutes and electoral guidelines. However, the establishment of SWANECO will be subject to approval by the National Executive Council.
This provision ensures that the electoral arrangements remain within the authority of SWAN’s recognised governing structure and comply with the rules guiding the association’s internal elections.
The caretaker committee’s role is to facilitate the necessary arrangements rather than independently determine the electoral process outside the established framework.
The national leadership has also directed the committee to maintain regular communication with the National Secretariat throughout its assignment. This is expected to provide oversight and allow progress on membership verification, asset recovery, reconciliation and election preparations to be monitored.
The committee must also ensure that administrative records and chapter assets are properly documented for transfer to the executive that eventually emerges from the election.
Benjamin expresses confidence in committee
SWAN President Isaiah Benjamin expressed confidence that the committee would discharge its responsibilities with transparency, impartiality and a strong sense of duty.
He emphasised the importance of prioritising the collective interests of members as the committee works to stabilise the Lagos State Chapter and prepare it for an elected leadership.
The national leadership considers the chapter’s stabilisation an important part of the association’s overall growth and its efforts to promote unity among sports journalists across the country.
The committee’s performance will be assessed against its ability to address the administrative responsibilities assigned to it, improve relations among members, account for chapter assets and support preparations for the forthcoming election.
With its mandate spanning administration, reconciliation, accountability and electoral preparations, the caretaker committee is expected to work closely with the National Secretariat during the three-month period.
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