Analysing AFAS Performance in the Last UI SU Elections

Olanshile Ogunrinu


In the vibrant academic landscape of our University, where each Faculty strives for excellence and representation, the Association of Faculty of Arts Students (AFAS), the premier Faculty at our institution, witnessed an unexpected setback in the Student Union elections held during the previous session. This setback is particularly pronounced when we consider that five students from the Faculty of Arts threw their hats into the ring, vying for different executive posts within the Student Union, yet, when the dust settled and the results were announced, only one candidate from AFAS emerged victorious. This disappointing outcome has left many within the Faculty and the student body at large wondering: what factors contributed to AFAS’ subpar performance in the last session’s Student Union elections?

The Faculty of Arts has long been known as a stronghold of intellectualism and cultural diversity within our university. With its rich history and an abundance of passionate students, AFAS had previously enjoyed a considerable presence in the Student Union, consistently producing strong candidates who secured executive roles.

“AFAS candidates that I’ve known so far in SU politics usually win their elections before the suspension of the Union and (even) after the ban was lifted”, said Arinola David ‘Addo Original’, while speaking with AFAS Press.

“The erstwhile Student Union President, Mr Ojo Aderemi, was from the department of History. When the ban was lifted, the President Akeju administration came, and no Faculty of Arts student contested for any position. The next Student Union election came and two Faculty of Arts students contested for the post of Assistant General Secretary and Treasurer, of which I was part, and we won the election, all glory to God”, he continued.

However, the tide seems to have shifted, and the last session’s elections bore witness to a significant decline in AFAS’ performance on this front. Five students of the Faculty contested for different executive posts in the Student Union. One is Adeyeye Bukola Sharon ‘ABS’, a 300-level student of the Department of European Studies who contested for the position of the Student Union President. Kunmi Jose, a 200-level student of the Department of Communication and Language Arts, vied for the position of the Student Union Vice President. The position of the Student Union Public Relations Officer was contested for by Adesina Michael ‘Meeky’, a 200-level student of Philosophy, and Oluseye Oluwaseun ‘Active Don’, a 300-level student of the Department of Theatre Arts (and former Director of Information and Publicity, AFAS). AFAS former Assistant General Secretary, Olamilekan Adeniyi ‘Mojuba’, who was a 200-level student of Linguistics, ran for the same position at the SU, and only he, interestingly, won the post he ran for unopposed.

One of the primary questions that arose in the aftermath of this subpar performance is whether there were internal issues within AFAS that hindered its candidates’ chances.
Did the organisational or leadership problems within the association impact its ability to rally support for its candidates? Or were there deeper divisions or challenges that arose from within the Faculty, affecting its cohesion and unity during the election campaign? To understand these dynamics, we must delve into the intricacies of AFAS and its role within our academic community.

Hall Politics Over Faculty

The longstanding tradition of prioritizing allegiance to one’s hall of residence over Faculty during Student Union elections at the University of Ibadan has been observed as one of the contributing factors to the subpar outing by AFAS Candidates at the last elections.

Reacting to this, Hon. Olasoji Akindejoye, immediate past Speaker of AFAS FLC noted this as a factor that is not likely to stop anytime soon.

“It may remain a problem and it may persist if students continue to pay allegiance to their hall of residence over their Faculty. It is almost impossible to pay allegiance to the Faculty over the Hall of residence, but if possible, that will be the best”, he said.

Also confirming the assertion, Arinola David ‘Addo Original’ stressed how the halls of residence have always been the major deciding force in the Union elections at the University of Ibadan. “One thing is known in the University of Ibadan, it is not news that the Students Union elections are based on the Halls of residence, not Faculties. Faculties also play a role, though“.


Lack of a United Front in AFAS

Another contributing factor to the subpar performance of the AFAS candidates in the last Student Union elections was the observed lack of a united front within the association itself. This internal disunity became evident when two candidates from AFAS emerged to contest the same position of Student’s Union PRO. The inability of the Faculty’s stakeholders to convince one of these candidates to step down highlighted the fragmentation within AFAS. This division not only diluted the Faculty’s collective support, but also confused the electorate, ultimately weakening AFAS’ influence in the election.

“Whenever it is time for elections, all AFASites should see it as an AFAS ticket and not an individual ticket. Aspirants should show interest in the Faculty first, and in case two persons show interest in the same position, the Faculty leaders should screen and pick one. The other should step down in good faith to support the approved aspirant”, said Hon. Olasoji, while reacting to this.

“The Faculty cannot (force) anyone to step down because everyone has the right to contest, however, having to produce two candidates from the same Faculty is a disadvantage already”, noted Addo while buttressing the assertion.


Internal Politics and Whatnot

In addition to the aforementioned factors, internal politics within the leadership of the AFAS has emerged as another significant factor contributing to the poor performance of the Faculty candidates in the last Student Union election.

“In the last election, AFAS did not work for any candidate, not one. The former President led a support group on a personal mission in favour of the VP aspirant from CLA, not in the name of AFAS”, said Hon. Olasoji.

“Due to political differences between AFAS leaders, they did not work for any of their candidates. When some leaders endorsed Kunmi, some opposed it, saying she’s in AKOEM’s camp. Same goes for Active Don, AFAS leaders were strongly against Philosophy candidates, so, there’s no way Meeky could have been endorsed”.

“Concerning ABS, AFAS leaders preferred Kunmi to her, as they could not sponsor a President and Vice President from the same Faculty. No support was given to her. Another factor is that she had issues with her hall. And it was rumoured that the then Faculty of Technology President, Tegbe, was behind her ambition to contest, unfortunately, AFAS leaders and Tech leaders were not on the same page at that time”.

“Personal interests of AFAS leaders played out in the election, same as their sentiments. Mojuba tried, he tried to lay his head low, he did a personal job without seeking AFAS’s endorsement. That he had no opponent also helped him. Being a Zikite was another huge advantage for him as he had their massive support”, he concluded.

To improve their AFAS electoral prospects at the Union level, it is important that the association addresses these internal challenges and present a more cohesive and united front to ensure that candidates from the Faculty perform better in Student Union elections in the future.

“It is almost impossible to pay allegiance to Faculties over Halls of residence, but if possible, that will be the best. Also, the Faculty should not present more than two or three aspirants for offices, and support should be given to them. Also, if the Faculty asks a Presidential aspirant to step down so that the Faculty can fully support a Vice Presidential aspirant, this should be accepted in good faith”, Hon Olasoji said, when asked for possible solutions to improve on the situation going forward.

“In all, honesty and fair play should be highly encouraged”, he concluded.