….Ex-SUG President, Babs Trusts Successor
Adeyemo Taiwo, Zainab Abiola, Adebisi Fawas
The Director of Students’ Affairs, Moshood Abiola Polytechnic, Abeokuta, Mr. Olusegun Aninkan has stated reasons why the just concluded Student Union Government election was conducted despite that it was an unopposed contest.
Mr. Aninkan noted that the school authority has not restricted qualified aspirants from contesting, adding that the criteria did.
The Director disclosed this in an interview with the Press Club at the Department of Information, Communication and Technology on Thursday.
The election outcome made Ajani Sodiq from the department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering emerged as the 36th SUG President of MAPOLY.
The Press Club, who was also an observer at the election venue held at the Computer Science, ICT courtyard, gathered that there was no opposition for all the offices.
However, Mr. Aninkan made it known that all students, except some, were given a fair chance to contest for the offices.
He said the management was surprised when it was informed that there was no opposition.
He further added that the management monitored the electoral body to eliminate biases that might be involved but the body was not guilty.
"The non-opposition of the election is a problem of nobody; the invitation was called to the application and nobody was disqualified.
He gave reasons: "People are not serious about the election, maybe because of the measure put in place and also the criteria for who can aspire for some posts like the president, financial secretary, etc., which state that the candidates must have upper credit or at least 2.85.
"The constitution says that only the financial member of the union can contest also another clause of the constitution, forbids if the union body so desires to reveal the constitution
"You cannot participate in the election if you have not undergone your National Diploma program here," the Director said.
In his remark after Optimum was announced as the winner of the election, the immediate former SU President, Babatunde Adeola (Babs) expressed that his successor is capable of serving the students.
Babs said on the low turn that students are no more committed to school unionism.
"As regards to the low turnout, presently now students are already showing noncommitment as regards to unionism in the school."
"Most of the students already felt that since there is just one candidate and no opponent, there is no point in voting."
He, however, advised students to revive the ‘vibes’ of school unionism and see it "as an opportunity to take part in the school activities and serve."
Also, the speaker of the Student Representative Council, MAPOLY, Hon. Akinlade Fisayo commented that participation in an election is about willingness to serve and not about money.
"Unionism is not about money but willingness."
On low turn out, the Speaker said: "I think we should organize an orientation program to bring back the spirit of unionism among the students."
