The Imperative of AFAS ’24
Jolaade Ifeoluwayimika
As the ongoing academic session concludes, students should undoubtedly be curious about the upcoming transition of leadership in AFAS. Last year’s electoral process, history should recall, was marred by delays, as it extended into the holiday season. According to the amended constitution, the timeline of the election and electoral processes is meant to be two weeks before the commencement of general examinations for the second semester, concerns about the feasibility of this schedule have begun to arise.
For one, a significant hurdle facing the establishment of the election process is the absence of a constituted electoral committee. As noted by the Speaker during the last FLC sitting held on Friday, February 23rd, 2024, the delay in inaugurating the electoral committee is a becoming concern. In the Speaker’s words, “The electoral committee should have been inaugurated by now. According to the old constitution, the CPS is to nominate, screen and inaugurate the electoral committee, but according to the new constitution which is being used by the House, the president or the department should be nominated and their names should be forwarded for inauguration”. It thus should be noted that without this crucial body in place, essential tasks such as overseeing the election process, setting guidelines, and ensuring fairness become impossible. Additionally, the monumental ban on campaigns further complicates matters, as it restricts candidates from actively engaging the students’ community to garner support and outline their platforms.
Another significant change in the election process is the shift in the responsibility of constituting and inaugurating the electoral committee. While, previously, it used to be put together by the Council of Presidents and Secretaries, this task, according to the provision of the amended constitution, has now been transferred to the Faculty Legislative Council (FLC). As of date, there is currently ambiguity regarding when departments will fully submit the names of their representatives for the committee, currently contributing to the overall uncertainty surrounding the election process.
At the last plenary sitting, it was said that letters had been dispatched to each department, requesting that they put forward three names (nominees for the committee) which would then be screened at the faculty level. From these departments, one name would finally be forwarded to the Staff Adviser for the committee’s inauguration. As it stands, only seven of the twelve existing departments in the faculty, have responded positively to the letter from FLC, by sending a list of their nominees. These departments include Linguistics, Archaeology and Anthropology, Philosophy, Religious Studies, Music, and English; while the other five departments (Theatre Art, CLA, Classics, History, European Studies) are yet to provide a response. This delay, begging for redress, needs timely cooperation from all departments to ensure a smooth, timely and inclusive electoral committee formation.
Given these circumstances, it is understandable that concerns about the smoothness of the leadership transition persist. The absence of a formed electoral committee and the lingering campaign ban raises an objective question about the readiness of the faculty leadership to ensure a seamless transition this time around. As students and stakeholders within the faculty, it is essential to engage with the faculty leadership to seek clarity on the steps being taken to address these concerns. Transparency and open communication between students and faculty leaders are vital in fostering trust and confidence in the integrity of the election process.
