AFASIEC Disqualifies AFAS Presidential Candidate, Richard Elijah
Aduwo Ayodele
The Association of Faculty of Art Students Independent Electoral Committee (AFASIEC) has on Monday, July 17, 2023, disqualified Richard Elijah Oluwagbenga, one of the presidential aspirants in the Association’s scheduled election.
The notification of Richard Elijah Oluwagbenga’s disqualification, a student of the Music Department, was announced in a release signed by the Chairman of the Electoral Committee, Sulaimon Mikail.
“We must inform you of Mr. Richard Elijah Oluwagbenga’s disqualification from running for this position based on serious allegations of misappropriation, and mismanagement.”, the release titled “Disqualification of Mr. Richard Elijah Oluwagbenga from running for the Position of AFAS President” read.
“As members of the Electoral Committee, we are tasked with upholding the principles of fairness, integrity, and adherence to the Constitution. We thoroughly examined the evidence presented against Mr. Richard Elijah Oluwagbenga and found it to be compelling and substantiated. The allegations of financial mismanagement and misappropriation cannot be ignored, as they directly undermine the trust and confidence that our Association places in its leaders.”, it further read.
Quoting the section of the AFAS Constitution ultimately guiding its decision, Sulaimon Mikail noted that “any officer of the Association found guilty of financial mismanagement and misappropriation shall automatically forfeit his office and shall henceforth be banned from holding any office and stand expelled from the Association”.
Maintaining its stance, the Electoral Committee has noted that the decision of the Committee is not based on prejudice or bias, but as a step hinged on integrity.
“We understand that this decision may be met with mixed emotions, however, we firmly uphold principles of fairness, justice, and accountability. Our stance is not based on prejudice or bias, but rather a necessary step to maintain the integrity of the electoral process.”
