Everest Ezihe of Authority Newspapers has been elected as the Chairman of Sports Writers Association of Nigeria, Imo State chapter after he defeated Johnkennedy Uzoma of Xpressing Newspapers in an election conducted on Friday in Owerri.
Ezihe who was a former Imo State Correspondent Chapel Chairman won the poll by nine votes to four in a keenly contested election that was supervised by the SWAN, Vice President, South East, Ms Chigozie Chukwuleta, and held at the Imo FA Secretariat, Owerri.
Others elected were SportingLife/The Nation Newspapers’ Tunde Liadi as Secretary and Anthony Okoroigwe as Treasurer among others elected.
Speaking shortly after the election, the Vice President of SWAN South East, Chigozie Chukwuleta, urged the newly elected executives to run an all-inclusive Association, stating she was sure that it was the love of the Association that moved them to contest the election.
She noted that the election is that of no victor no vanquish, stressing that those who lost in the election should not turn their back on the Association.
Chukwuleta urged the sportswriters in the state to be proactive while also imploring them to beam the searchlight of their reportage on other sporting activities besides football with adequate publicity.
She nonetheless congratulated the newly sworn-in executives and urged them to remain focused and get down to work almost immediately.
In his maiden speech after receiving a Certificate of Return from SWANNECO Chairman, Kingsley Uzowuru, the newly sworn-in Chairman, Ezihe, thanked God and members of the Association for electing him and deeming him worthwhile pointing out that it will be a family affair and that collective interest will be his watchword.
He assured that he would carry everyone in the Imo Chapter of SWAN along, disclosing that his administration will centre on restoration, transformation and welfare.
Ezihe promised to ensure that the union is restored to its former pride of place in the state and solicited for the support of the members to ensure that his dispensation takes off seamlessly and seen to be very active and making SWAN in the State very relevant and playing its watchdog role effectively.
The former Chairman, SWAN, Imo Ifeanyi Emesonwu of Imo Broadcasting Service/ Orient FM, tasked the new executive to maintain stability and good synergy amongst members and also ensures that SWAN is not moribund.
