Few days to the National Delegates Conference of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) the screening committee of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria Electoral Committee (SWANECO) 2023 has released the outcome of its exercise.
According to a publication from the screening which was released on Monday, 3rd July, 2023 and signed jointly by Sunny Ogele and Alambo Datonye, Chairman and Secretary of SWANECO respectively and also tagged: Result of the Screening of Aspirants by SWANECO for the Election into the National Executive Committee Of SWAN and made available to the www.sportseye.ng, Kano’s Malikawa was disqualified along with others.
Under presidential aspirants, Abubakar Adamu Sadiq and Isaiah Kemje Benjamin were cleared to contest while the former chairman of Kano State SWAN, Lurwanu Idris Malikawa was axed.
Malikawa failed to pass due to a number of reasons ranging from his failure to resign as Media Officer of Kano Pillars Football Club and also as an elected member of the Kano State Football Association 12 Months before the Election an action which contradicts the SWANECO item number 1 Guidelines 2023 of the SWAN National Elections.
On the post of Deputy National President of the association, Bonny Silas Nyong was also cleared to contest while Chigozie Patience Chukwuleta was not cleared due to indebtedness to SWAN from Nomination Forms for the 2019 Election National Election). The committee relied on item number 8, 2023 of the SWAN National Elections Guidelines). Gabriel Nwanetanya was also not cleared from contesting the position of deputy president of the association.
On the position of the Secretary General of the association, Ikenna Victor Okonkwo will have an easy ride to become the new scribe of the association following the disqualification of Jude Kelechi Opara who was found wanting due to the Indebtedness to SWAN from Nomination Forms for the 2019 Election and also deficiency in academic qualification while Adetula Oluphemmy too was disqualified for failing to meet requirements of Article 13 b, which demands membership of Full Council for not less than a term of three years.
On the deputy secretary’s position, Eche Amos Nehemiah was disqualified because of the fact that he is a contract staff with the Nasarawa State Ministry of Sports as PRO and still functions as Media Officer of Nasarawa United. F
Eche Amos Nehemiah failed to meet the requirements of Article 13 b (i) of the SWAN Statutes having not served in any position at the State Executive Committee before.
On the position of Vice Presidential Aspirants, Ayodeji Ogunsakin (VP South-West) and Azuka Ralph Chiemeka (VP South-South) were cleared while Oji Anthony (VP South-East) were axed for their failure in their Academic Requirement.
Mahmud Musa Danlami (VP North-Central), Jimoh Bashir – (VP North-Central) and Thaddeus Yilman (VP North-Central) all Failed for failing to attend Screening Exercise.
On the position of the National Welfare Officer, aspirant Augustine Ajayi was cleared while Olowookere Oluwabusayo failed due to Academic Requirement.
Ijeoma Peter Nwante was cleared to run as the association’s National Financial Secretary while Orji Sampson Nwokike was not due to his indebtedness to SWAN from Nomination Forms for the 2019 Election.
Lastly, the release asked any “Not Cleared” candidate(s) who is not satisfied with the committee’s verdict to appeal their disqualification, accordingly.