Beyond Affiliations: Rethinking Student Leadership Elections in the University of Ibadan

Abdullateef Isa
It is the election season in the University of Ibadan, when students choose representatives to advocate for their interests . Though the campaign ban has not been lifted at the student union level and in many faculties, departments, and halls, students interested in leadership positions are already gearing up, mobilizing support, and sharing plans. At the same time, political conscious students are also at alert, watching the scene as it unfolds, and discussing what the election outcomes might be. In fact, some have already selected their choicest candidates and are even going to the extent of canvasing for votes on behalf of the candidates.
What exactly influences UItes’ voting decisions? What determines who they vote for to serve them in executive offices and represent them at legislative councils?
Like it happened in Nigeria, in 2023, where many Nigerians voted for presidential candidates on bases beyond competence, it happened in UI at the election that brought in the present union leaders. For instance, some Nigerians yielded to the Yoruba lokan call and supported Asiwaju Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC); some said ‘yes’ to Daddy’s call and voted for Mr. Peter Obi of the Labour Party; while some still maintained the ethnic card and voted for Alhaji Atiku Abubakar of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).
In UI, a closer look reveals that many students vote based on their affiliation to a candidate. If someone is from their hall, faculty, or department, they tend to vote for that person simply because of this connection. There are students who vote because someone belongs to their fellowship or to their religious circle. These people do not look at what the individual can offer, but rather look at it from a small length and vote because the person belongs to their circle. Is this the right way to approach voting? What impact does this have on the actions and inactions of student leaders and office holders?
There was a rumour that if the current Student Union President had been from a particular hall, the students in that hall would not have joined the call against the fee hike. The rumour claimed they would not participate because they would not want anything to trouble their hallmate, in power. A very critical question is, did these students consider the impact of the fee hike on themselves and the university community?
Another example occurred when the House Secretary of the union, Daniel Elemide, was prevented from taking action against arbitrary price increases at Indy Hall. The union had already made a decision to guard against such price hikes, but when Elemide tried to enforce this decision, he was stopped because he was not from Indy Hall.
The University of Ibadan Student Union, taglined intellectual unionism, is at a critical juncture. It is high time students demonstrated intellectual rigour when electing representatives. They must look beyond religious, hall, faculty, and departmental affiliations, and prioritize competence, capacity, character, courage, and commitment instead.
Students need to start asking questions like: Who are you? What have you done before? How effective were you when you were in your previous office? What experience do you have? What are you bringing to the table this time around? What are your plans? How do you hope to achieve your plans? What are your views on the actions and inactions of the current administration? Whose path do you want to follow?
At this pivotal moment in the union’s history, it requires authoritative leadership to drive it forward. A discerning individual who can effectively communicate student concerns to the management is urgently needed. This leader must be willing to devote time and energy to represent student interests and address their concerns. The sooner the union adopts this kind of leadership, the better for the union, the university community, and the students.