By Faith Anisiobi, The Sight News
Caretaker Chairman of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN), Lagos State chapter, Patrick Omorodion, has pushed back against allegations of women’s marginalisation, insisting that female representation on the chapter’s caretaker and electoral committees contradicts claims of exclusion.
He described the allegations as unfounded, maintaining that the committees were established to restore order, uphold due process and pave the way for a credible election.
Omorodion, a former SWAN national vice-president and Lagos chapter secretary, said the committees were constituted to restore stability, reposition the association and ensure a credible election.
Appointed by SWAN’s national leadership on October 9, 2026, following the resignation of acting chairman Aron Akerejola, Omorodion said his emergence was intended to prevent a leadership vacuum and resolve the lingering crisis in the Lagos chapter.
In a statement, he traced the dispute to the suspension of Olatutu Oladunni, whose first tenure had expired but who, according to him, failed to comply with directives from the national leadership on organizing a fresh election.
He said the caretaker committee subsequently announced an Extraordinary Congress to deliberate on repositioning the association and conducting a credible election.
However, Omorodion alleged that Oladunni mobilised a group of women to protest at the Lagos State House of Assembly over claims of marginalization, describing the action as an attempt to attract public sympathy amid the leadership dispute.
To counter the allegations, he highlighted the representation of women on the 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 questioned the basis of the marginalization claims, arguing that the composition of the committees demonstrated women’s inclusion in efforts to restore order and rebuild the association.
He also challenged Oladunni to identify the media organizations represented by the women who participated in the protest.
On the background to the crisis, the caretaker chairman said the previous national administration under former SWAN President Honour Sirawoo failed to ensure due process in the circumstances surrounding Oladunni’s emergence as Lagos chapter chairman.
He maintained that the current national leadership, headed by Isaiah Benjamin, had insisted on compliance with established procedures, a position he said contributed to the disagreement with Oladunni.
According to him, tensions escalated when Oladunni challenged the national president’s authority to intervene in the affairs of the Lagos chapter.
Omorodion said the caretaker committee was subsequently established following Oladunni’s suspension and Akerejola’s resignation to ensure continuity and prevent a leadership vacuum.
He further alleged that Oladunni attempted to have him removed by reporting him to the management of his employer, Vanguard Media, but the effort was unsuccessful.
Reflecting on the Extraordinary Congress, the Edo State-born journalist said members 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), said the turnout demonstrated members’ determination to rebuild the association and restore democratic processes.
Beyond the leadership crisis, 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, advising tenants doing business with the current occupants to prepare for a possible change.
Omorodion said he would remain focused on his responsibilities rather than engage in further exchanges over the controversy.
He urged members, the national leadership and other stakeholders to support efforts to reposition Lagos SWAN, uphold due process and ensure a credible election.
The caretaker committee is expected to steer the Lagos chapter towards a fresh election as efforts continue to resolve the leadership dispute and restore confidence among members.
