…as SRC claims it was not carried along
Oluwatobi Odeyinka
Various reactions have greeted the just concluded Students’ Union election which was conducted at the ICT center on Friday May 18, while some of the students hailed the Students’ Union Election Committee for the election, other chided the committee for perceived irregularities.
The students who opined that the election was not free and fair, highlighted such irregularities as lack of independent observers, manipulation of votes of some departments, among others.
A member of the Students’ Representative Council, who pleaded anonymity, disclosed that the SRC was not carried along in the election process.
When asked about the involvement of the council in the election, he said, “SRC was not carried along by SUELECO, so we did not know anything about the process before, during and after the election.
Meanwhile, all efforts made by PCM to reach the SRC speaker, to verify the information proved abortive.
Another student of Mass Communication claimed that Mass Communication students were not guided on the procedure for voting.
“When we got into the ICT center to vote, students from other departments were directed to designated computers while Mass Comm students were asked to make use of any computer of their choice.
“They deliberately asked every voter his or her department before giving directives; I think they did that in order to manipulate the election.” He said.
Another student, an executive of the Association of Mass Communication Students (AMACOS) who pleaded anonymity slammed SUELECO for lack of independent observers.
He said, “I saw the DSA with lots of Observer tags but they were not given out, even when members of Press Club demanded for the tags, he refused to give them.”
However, some students applauded SUELECO for the success of the election, saying it was free, fair, and credible.
Abiola Ajumoko (Phoenix), who contested the post of Public Relations Officer, but lost to Taiwo Aduragbemi said, “I do not think the election was rigged; I think the election was fair enough.
“I am just glad that we now have a Students’ Union and I am sure the newly elected executives will protect the rights of students.”
Another student also hailed SUELECO for a “free, fair and credible election” in his opinion.
He opined that the victorious team won because they mobilized enough students for the election, while the vanquished had few of their supporters on ground.
