OPINION: Reformation vs Advocate — Is This Worth a Fight as Culture of Enmity Grows Among Students?

Lateef Gbadamosi

For years, the two dominant yet unrecognized political groups on campus, Reformation and Advocate, have turned the Moshood Abiola Polytechnic, MAPOLY, political space into a battlefield. While other parties exist, these two remain the most powerful and influential.

Their influence is sharply divided: Advocate maintains strongholds in departments with large populations such as Mass Communication and Science Laboratory Technology, while Reformation consistently secures the Students’ Union Government, SUG and Students’ Representative Council, SRC, leadership. This tug-of-war has become a cycle — Reformation attempting to break into Advocate’s departmental dominance, while Advocate eyes control of the union seats. The result? Conflict, chaos, and campus unrest.

Last semester was no different. During the Chemical administration, department elections in SLT, Mass Communication, and SBMS were marred by disruptions allegedly orchestrated along party lines. A similar pattern played out during Easy’s administration, and yet again this year. The outcome has always been the same: enmity among students.

This has however moved from election violence alone, it’s has gotten to the stage that if a member of the Reformation party unintentionally steps on a member of Advocate party, it’d be sensed to have been politically influenced. It is sad to see brothers from same department, class making themselves enemies because of politics gains. This is the poisonous influence of unchecked partisanship.

But here lies the bigger question: Is this fight really worth it?

History and wisdom remind us that politicians at the top often dine together, despite appearing as rivals in public. Just as PDP and APC leaders find common ground, and as Davido, Wizkid, and Burna Boy share camaraderie despite their fan bases clashing, the so-called enemies in MAPOLY politics are friends behind the scenes. The tragedy is that their supporters — ordinary students — become pawns in a needless struggle, sacrificing peace, friendship, and even academic focus for battles that don’t truly serve them. At last, you go drop the post go your mama house.

What Must Change

It is time for the school management and SUG Electoral Committee, SUELECO, and other electoral bodies on campus to establish clear, enforceable rules banning unregistered political groups from hijacking student politics. Campus politics should revolve around ideas, not factions. Moreover, they’re not registered on campus to avoid same scenarios.

The alternative option to this is for the management to openly welcome these bodies on campus, so they can be checked and held accountable whenever there is misconduct during times like this.

Students must also be sensitized to see politics as service, not war. Lecturers, Workshops and media campaigns should teach that political affiliation is not a license to destruction.

Most essentially, physical altercations, threats, and intimidation should attract strict sanctions and prompt implementation. If students know they will face suspension or expulsion for turning politics violent, they will think twice before acting as tools of chaos.

In all, student politics must return to its core purpose which is advocating for better welfare, academic support, and facilities. When the focus is service rather than supremacy, the seeds of conflict naturally die out.

Students of MAPOLY must rise above being used as instruments of destruction. Campus politics should not be about Reformation vs Advocate, but about students vs the issues that affect them: better classrooms, improved facilities, stable power, fair academic policies.

If the culture of enmity continues unchecked, today’s students will leave behind a legacy of division rather than progress. But if we choose dialogue, unity, and service-driven politics, we can reshape the narrative for the next generation of MAPOLY students.

So, I ask again: Is this worth a fight? Or is it time for a reformation of mindset and an advocacy for peace?