Sports Writers Association of Nigeria, Imo Chapter on Saturday elected Darling FM’s Cosmos Chukwuemeka as its new Chairman as a replacement for former helmsman of the association, Everest Ezihe of The Authority Newspapers in an election held at the Imo FA Office, San Anyiam Stadium, Owerri, Imo State.
The election supervised by the representative of National SWAN and Anambra based Ikem Asika was also monitored by the representatives of Imo Sports Commission and Ministry of Youth and Sports, Imo State.
Cosmos also known as Puyaka by his admirers polled 12 votes to defeat the incumbent chairman, Ezihe who got 7 votes. The other Chairmanship candidate, Johnkennedy Uzoma of Nigerian Tribune withdrew his mandate shortly before the start of the election.
The other two positions contested for saw Tunde Liadi of Nations Newspapers emerging as the Secretary of the Association while Kingsley Anosike of De Echo FM emerged as the Welfare Secretary. Both positions were contested unopposed.
In his acceptance speech, the newly elected chairman, Cosmos Chukwuemeka appreciated members of the association for voting him in but he called for a united Imo SWAN since the election is over.
He beckoned on Imo SWAN members to bring up ideas and innovations that can drive the association to the desired heights adding that members must work in unison for this to be achieved.
“I want to appreciate all members of our esteemed association in Imo State for voting me in as the new Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) Chairman. It was an election that was well fought and won. The election is over and I will need the support of everyone to ensure the association gets to the desired enviable heights,” Chukwuemeka said.
“By privilege I was the only Imo State journalist at the last African Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast and I discovered that Lagos and Abuja were the most represented out of the 202 journalists that attended the competition from Nigeria. It is not encouraging. We must all pull our resources together to ensure that we attend competitions like other states.
“I will be coming with Innovations and ideas that can lift our association beyond its present state and by the grace of God before the end of my tenure Imo SWAN should be able to earn through its social media accounts. I need the support of everyone and I need us to come up with innovations and ideas that can help develop our association.”
The representative of National SWAN, Ikem Asika sent the congratulatory message of the President, Isaiah Benjamin and he urged Imo SWAN members to remain as one and rally round the new executive board.
Representative of the Imo Sports Commission, Patricia Ezeji who spoke on behalf of the Director of Sports, Sir Ferdinand Emeana and the representative of the Imo State Ministry of Youth and Sports, Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Mrs Duru both praised the conduct of the election and urges Imo SWAN to get to work immediately.
