Omorodion Faults Marginalisation Allegations, Says Women Are Represented in Lagos SWAN Committees

Oru Leonard 

Caretaker Chairman of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN), Lagos State chapter, Patrick Omorodion, has dismissed allegations of women’s marginalisation in the chapter’s leadership arrangements, insisting that women are adequately represented in the committees established to restore stability and organise fresh elections.

Omorodion, a former SWAN National Vice President and former Secretary of the Lagos chapter, described the allegations as unfounded, arguing that the composition of both the caretaker committee and the electoral committee demonstrates a commitment to inclusiveness and due process.

Appointed by SWAN’s national leadership on October 9, 2026, following the resignation of acting chairman Aron Akerejola, Omorodion said his appointment was intended to address the prolonged leadership crisis and prevent a vacuum in the chapter’s administration.

In a statement, he traced the controversy to the suspension of Olatutu Oladunni, whose first term as Lagos SWAN chairman had expired. According to him, the dispute arose from her alleged failure to comply with directives from the national leadership concerning the proper conduct of a fresh election.

He explained that the caretaker committee subsequently convened an Extraordinary Congress to deliberate on repositioning the association and establishing a credible electoral process.

However, Omorodion alleged that Oladunni responded by mobilising a group of women to protest at the Lagos State House of Assembly over claims that women were being marginalised within the association.

He questioned the rationale behind taking the internal leadership dispute to the Assembly, describing the protest as an attempt to attract public sympathy amid the ongoing controversy.

To counter the allegations, the caretaker chairman highlighted the participation of women in the committees responsible for stabilising the chapter and conducting its elections.

“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 further disclosed that three women serve on the seven-member SWAN Electoral Committee (SWANECO). They are Jovita Eke of Wazobia FM, Tega Onajaife of Cool FM and Dr Suo Chapelle of SuperSport.

According to Omorodion, the representation of these women contradicts suggestions that female members have been excluded from the ongoing efforts to resolve the crisis.

He also challenged Oladunni to identify the media organisations represented by the women who participated in the protest at the Lagos State House of Assembly.

Providing further background to the crisis, Omorodion alleged that the previous SWAN national administration, led by former President Honour Sirawoo, failed to ensure due process in the circumstances surrounding Oladunni’s emergence as chairman of the Lagos chapter.

He said the current national leadership, under Isaiah Benjamin, had adopted a different approach by insisting that established procedures must be followed in resolving the dispute and conducting fresh elections.

Omorodion maintained that tensions escalated when Oladunni allegedly challenged the national president’s authority to intervene in the affairs of the Lagos chapter.

He said the caretaker committee became necessary following Oladunni’s suspension and Akerejola’s resignation, adding that the arrangement was designed to ensure administrative continuity while preparing the association for a new election.

The former national vice president also alleged that Oladunni attempted to have him removed from his position by reporting him to the management of his employer, Vanguard Media, but that the effort did not succeed.

Reflecting on the Extraordinary Congress convened by the caretaker committee, Omorodion said the meeting attracted a significant number of prominent sports journalists despite what he described as an attempt to disrupt the gathering through police intervention.

He maintained that the attendance demonstrated members’ determination to restore order, strengthen internal democracy and reposition the Lagos chapter for effective administration.

Omorodion, who is also a former board member and spokesperson of the Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF), said the association must prioritise established procedures and collective interests over prolonged leadership disagreements.

Beyond the leadership controversy, the caretaker chairman raised concerns about the Lagos SWAN secretariat, which he said was built for the association by former Lagos State Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola.

He expressed determination to reclaim the facility when the appropriate time comes and warned tenants conducting business with the current occupants to prepare for a possible change in circumstances.

The issue of the secretariat adds another dimension to the dispute, with its management and control emerging as matters of concern for the caretaker leadership.

Declaring that he would concentrate on discharging the responsibilities of his office, Omorodion said he would no longer allow the controversy to distract him from efforts to restore stability and credibility to the chapter.

He urged members of Lagos SWAN, the national leadership and other stakeholders to support the caretaker committee’s efforts to reposition the association, promote unity and ensure that its affairs are conducted in accordance with established rules.

The leadership crisis comes at a crucial period for Lagos SWAN, as the caretaker committee seeks to organise a fresh election and rebuild confidence among members following months of disagreement over the chapter’s administration.