On Tuesday, some members of the Bayelsa State chapter of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) distanced themselves from China Acheru’s three-man caretaker committee.
China Acheru, the SWAN National Ex Officio and National Officer, had set up the committee to oversee the election into the State Executive Committee of Bayelsa SWAN after the initial election plans fell through.
The caretaker committee was formed because not all election candidates met the SWAN requirements, leading to the postponement of the polls.
However, after a meeting at the Ernest Okoli Media Complex in Yenagoa, some members of Bayelsa SWAN deemed the caretaker committee illegal.
In a communiqué signed by Mrs. Doris Francis Eniekezimene and Hananeel Jackson, the committee was criticized for being abnormal and not in the members’ interests.
The group urged the SWAN national body to conduct a fair election promptly in the state.
Bayelsa SWAN expressed disappointment in the appointment of Loveday Herbert as chairman, highlighting his twelve-year unilateral leadership without elections despite having qualified and tech-savvy members.
The association called on various state sports entities and stakeholders to refrain from engaging with the interim caretaker committee until a proper executive committee is elected.
Additionally, the group congratulated Chief Daniel Igali on his nomination as Commissioner-Designate and applauded Governor Douye Diri for his exceptional support for sports development in the state over the past four years.
A moment of silence was observed for departed members, with prayers for their families to find comfort in the loss.