January 09, (THEWILL) – The Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) held a tense National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting from January 7-9, 2024 in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.
With SWAN President, Isaiah Benjamin, refusing to call a physical NEC meeting to address critical issues facing the association, Deputy President, Otuekong Bonny Nyong, presided over the meeting per a NEC resolution.
Key decisions from the exhaustive deliberations include nullifying the suspension of North West VP Muhammad Mansour Ibrahim and the appointment of Lurwanu Idris Malikawa as a National Ex-officio. NEC also set deadlines for membership revalidation, agreed to support chapter elections per the SWAN statute, and formed a three-member committee to investigate “serious infractions” by Benjamin.
Citing issues like unilateral decisions, fiscal opacity, and brewing divisions, NEC voted to suspend Benjamin as President, pending the committee’s report due in 90 days. Nyong was directed to take over as Acting President. NEC also sponsored delegates to the 2024 Africa Cup of Nations, activated the SWAN Foundation, thanked the Akwa Ibom Government for event support, and mourned recently deceased members.
The communique issued at the end of deliberations stated that Benjamin disregarded SWAN rules and polarised its leadership – thus requiring urgent intervention. The investigation will determine SWAN’s direction amid growing internal turmoil over fidelity to administrative norms.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
