But for the quick intervention of some senior journalists, some gun-wielding hooligans would have ‎caused mayhem at the National Stadium, Lagos, during the congress of the Lagos chapter of the Sports Writers Association (SWAN) yesterday.

The journalists had gathered at the stadium for an emergency congress to elect members of the chapters electoral committee, tagged SWANEC0, when the hooligans, backed by some security operatives approached to forcefully dislodge them.

The situation would have turned bloody, but for the intervention of some senior journalists, who advised the SWAN members to take their congress away from their secretariat inside the stadium.

It was later learnt that the thugs were allegedly hired by some people suspended by SWAN’s national body for indulging in acts inimical to the growth of the association.

The congress was then moved to the adjacent Teslim Balogun Stadium, where Patrick Omorodion of The Vanguard was elected to head the 2025 SWANECO.
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‎At the extra-ordinary congress presided over by Aaron Akerejola, interim chairman appointed by the National SWAN, the members nominated and approved the appointment of Anulika Menanya of Voice of Nigeria, McAnthony Anaelechukwu, Soliu Adeyemo, and Michael Nnabuchi, as members of the committee.
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The congress charged the committee to conduct the elections strictly in line with the SWAN statute (as amended), to ensure fairness and transparency.

Akerejola thanked members for showing up on short notice, describing it as a positive sign in the collective effort to rescue the association from individuals, who have used it for personal gains. He emphasised the need to reposition SWAN to better serve all members, in line with the vision of its founding fathers.
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‎“It has been my vision for months to see all parties come together under one umbrella to chart the way forward,” he said. “Our task here is simple. We are to assess the current situation and deliberate on a way forward, in line with the mandate of the National SWAN executive led by Benjamin Isaiah.”
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The congress ‎also called on the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun; the Director General of the DSS, Adeola Ajayi; the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Olohundare Jimoh, and the Area Commander of Area C Police Command to call their officers to order.