Amgbare Ekaunkumo, Yenagoa
The Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN), Bayelsa State chapter, has inaugurated a three-man Caretaker/Election Committee to pilot it’s affairs for the next three months.
The committee is chaired by a veteran sports writer and sports editor of the Bayelsa State Newspaper Corporation, New Waves, Mr. Loveday Herbert, has Promise Okotoko of Rhythm 94.7 as secretary and Shadreck Frank of the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN is to serve as member.
The committee was set up following the postponement of the election which could not hold due to non clearance of candidates for the various positions by SWAN National Ex Officio and National Officer appointed to supervise the election, Mr. China Acheru.
Speaking to newsmen, Mr China Acheru, National Officer of SWAN said the elections did not hold due to irregularities in the documents submitted by the various contestants which could lead to disqualification, adding that the national president was notified and gave the nod for the postponement of the election.
Achero observed that going ahead to conduct the elections when the candidates did not meet the SWAN electoral guidelines would have thrown the credibility of the election into the mud and also resulted in a lot of petitions and litigations.
“As the national officer sent by the present to conduct and monitor the election, I expected that when I came I would see that the electoral committee had done a good job as regards screening and vetting of documents.
“So when I came last night, by the time I met with the candidates this morning when I looked through their documents I saw a lot of irregularities which I think were in my place at that time.
“Every candidate I met this morning had something that would have ensured the person would not be able to contest the election. It was at that point I knew that the election would not be able to be held if not it would have had all of them disqualified
“So I insisted it was not my place to disqualify candidates, it is the body that is set up to conduct the elections. I called the SWAN president immediately and told him this was my challenge in Yenagoa and that this election would not be able to hold and if I go ahead to conduct the elections it would mean tying up my credibility and throwing it into the mud.
“That is how we decided based on the laid down procedures that after the electoral committee is dissolved which is natural we have to set up a caretaker committee to manage the affairs of SWAN for three months whose duty is to conduct fresh elections within three months and that is what we have done.
He there urged Bayelsa SWAN to put its house in order and ensure better gatekeeping as well as do the right thing in three months time to conduct a seamless election.
Also speaking, the NUJ Chairman, Bayelsa State Council, Comrade Samuel Numonengi urged members of SWAN to consider themselves as one big family and advised the various contestants not to see the election as a do-or-die affair but as a brotherly contest to choose a leader.
He further advised them to ensure that peace reigns in the fold of Bayelsa State SWAN because it is the only way to build a stronger and united NUJ in Bayelsa State.
The newly appointed caretaker committee chairman, Mr Loveday Herbert thanked members for the privilege to head the committee and promised to ensure that the election is conducted within the three-month timeframe.
Herbert therefore appealed to all members to remain calm, adding that the committee would follow SWAN status to the letter to do the right thing to make sure the election is credible.
Meanwhile, the outgoing chairman of SWAN in Bayelsa state, Mr Alambo Datonye Fred, had expressed his appreciation and commendation to the state governor Senator Douye Diri and his Deputy,
Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, for their support throughout his tenure, just as he equally commended stakeholders in sports for their unwavering cooperation and reiterated that his tenure had brought SWAN to limelight even at the National level as these strides wouldn’t have been possible without the cooperation from his executive council and the entire SWAN family.
