Imo SWAN Congress Resolves to Boycott Kun Khalifat FC Games Over Treatment of Members, Security Concerns
The Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN), Imo State Chapter, has resolved to boycott all publicity and media activities involving Kun Khalifat FC until further notice.
The resolution was reached at the end of the Imo SWAN Congress held on Tuesday, September 8, 2026, following the treatment meted out to some members before Kun Khalifat FC’s Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) Matchday Two fixture against Barau FC at the Dan Anyiam Stadium, Owerri, on Sunday, September 6.
Congress expressed concern that accredited sports journalists who arrived at the stadium to carry out their professional duties were denied access to the venue, allegedly on the directive of the club.
The Congress was also disturbed by the response attributed to the Chairman of the Imo State Football Association, Barrister Ifeanyi Dike, who reportedly stated that the restriction was at the instance of the owner of Kun Khalifat FC. He was further reported to have said that the safety of a journalist attempting to access the press stand could not be guaranteed. An official of Kun Khalifat too also issued out a threat too.
Imo SWAN considers the situation unacceptable and maintains that the safety of journalists and other legitimate stakeholders must be guaranteed at every officially sanctioned football match.
Congress also believes that the Imo State FA, as the body responsible for football administration in the state, has a responsibility to ensure proper security and access arrangements at matches within its jurisdiction.
Consequently, Congress unanimously resolved that members of Imo SWAN should suspend publicity, promotion and media coverage of Kun Khalifat FC and its activities until further notice.
The Association calls on the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) and the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) to investigate the incident and ensure appropriate measures are taken to prevent a recurrence.
Imo SWAN remains committed to the promotion and development of sports in the state but insists that sports journalists must be treated with respect and allowed to carry out their legitimate duties without intimidation, harassment or threats to their safety.
The boycott will remain in force until the issues raised by the Congress are satisfactorily addressed.
Meanwhile, Imo State Football Association Chairman, Barrister Ifeanyi Dike, has responded to the decision of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN), Imo State Chapter, to impose a media blackout on Kun Khalifat FC, insisting that the incident which prompted the action was largely a security precaution.
Imo SWAN had, at its Congress on Tuesday, resolved to boycott publicity and other media activities involving Kun Khalifat FC following the treatment of some of its members before the club’s Nigeria Premier Football League match against Barau FC at the Dan Anyiam Stadium, Owerri, on Sunday.
Reacting to the development, Dike explained that he did not issue any directive barring sports journalists from entering the stadium.
According to him, his intervention at the entrance to the main bowl concerned specifically the Imo SWAN Chairman, Cosmos Chukwuemeka, following information he received about possible hostility towards the journalist from some aggrieved supporters.
Dike said some Kun Khalifat supporters had allegedly seen Chukwuemeka interacting with an official of Barau FC and also helping the club in the area of logistics before the match and interpreted the interaction as evidence that he could have compromised his neutrality against the Owerri side.
The Imo FA Chairman stressed that he did not share or endorse such an allegation, but said he considered it necessary to take precautions after being informed that Chukwuemeka could face hostility inside the stadium.
“I didn’t deliberately stop the Imo SWAN Chairman, Cosmos Chukwuemeka, from entering the stadium,” Dike said.
“It was because of the information I received that he could be attacked at the stadium because some Kun Khalifat fans saw him with a Barau FC official before the game.
“Because of his safety, I advised him to stay away for a while until the situation could be properly assessed. It was not an attempt to prevent him from carrying out his professional duties.”
Dike further explained that the restriction did not extend to other members of Imo SWAN who were at the stadium.
“I didn’t stop the others who were with him from entering, but they chose not to go in in solidarity with their Chairman,” he added.
“I cannot take an issue involving a possible threat to someone’s life lightly. That was why I advised him to stay away for a while until I was able to get to the root of the matter.
“My concern at that particular moment was his safety. It would have been irresponsible for me to ignore information suggesting that there could be a security problem and simply allow him to walk into the situation.”
The FA Chairman maintained that what transpired should therefore not be interpreted as a deliberate attempt by the Imo FA to prevent journalists from covering the match.
He acknowledged the importance of sports journalists to football development in the state and expressed hope that the circumstances surrounding the incident would be properly understood and the disagreement resolved.
