UI Elections: Beyond The Noise, Halls, and Familiar Faces

By: Barakat Kareem

Every second semester, the University of Ibadan bursts into election season. Campaigns stretch across campus with banners fluttering, chants echoing from every corner, and students buzzing with excitement. WhatsApp groups and status updates filled with posts supporting favorites, while groups move from hall to hall drumming up votes and shaking hands. It’s that time of year everyone looks forward to, the air is thick with anticipation, energy, and just a hint of rivalry.

Elections take place at multiple levels, halls, departments, faculties and the Students’ Union. Across the university, halls of residence such as Nnamdi Azikiwe Hall, Obafemi Awolowo Hall , Idia Hall, Independence Hall, Mellanby Hall, Sultan Bello Hall, Tedder Hall, Queen Elizabeth II Hall, shape student politics in unique ways. Students rally behind candidates from their halls, form alliances, and engage in friendly or not-so-friendly rivalries. At the Student Union level, hall strategies become more pronounced: if one hall fields a candidate, another may step down strategically to give them an advantage, often with a “you scratch my back, I’ll scratch yours next time” understanding. The hall backing can make or break a candidate, and suddenly elections feel like a high-stakes chess game rather than a simple choice of leaders.

Faculty and departmental elections reveal similar patterns. Students often vote for someone simply because they are familiar with them, or because they are in the same department. Sometimes, a candidate from a student’s department who has fewer capabilities gets the vote over a stronger aspirant from another department. Alliances, familiarity, and perceived loyalty frequently outweigh careful evaluation of competence and vision.

Candidates’ behaviour also changes dramatically during this period. The usually reserved aspirant suddenly becomes charming, overly friendly, attentive, and promising things they wouldn’t normally think of. They spend more time with students, flood group chats with reminders and messages of care. But even with all this charm, manifesto nights often get drowned out in chants, cheers, and applause. Most students cannot identify a single actionable point from their candidate’s manifesto when they get distracted by the spectacle rather than the substance.

This is where the real test comes in. Leadership is more than being popular, familiar, or from a certain hall or department. True leaders are defined by vision, courage, accountability, and the ability to follow through. Popularity may win rallies, but it cannot fix hostel welfare issues, inadequate facilities, deteriorating lecture halls and buildings, increment in fees, or situations where students’ rights are wrongly abused. Leadership is about tackling real everyday challenges head-on, not just appearing friendly during election season.

Looking Deeper: What Really Matters

Choosing a leader means looking past the banners and the cheers. It’s about finding someone ready to fight for students, to speak up even when it’s uncomfortable, and to act when action is needed. It’s about someone who listens to the concerns of all students, not just a few close friends or supporters. A true leader takes responsibility for the student body and works tirelessly to ensure that promises translate into real, tangible improvements.

Check their track record. Have they stepped up when responsibilities called, or do they only shine when the spotlight is on them? Leadership isn’t just about speeches and handshakes, it’s about action, uniting people, and delivering results.

Consider whether they understand the day-to-day challenges students face, from hostels to lecture halls, and welfare concerns. Do they have a vision that goes beyond their hall or department, aiming to serve the entire student body?

Choosing a leader is about selecting someone who can turn promises into action, lead with integrity, and truly understand what students need. That is what makes a candidate worthy of your vote. A worthy leader does not only speak for students but ensures their voices are heard in decision-making. They prioritise the welfare of the entire student body above personal gain or popularity

Moving Beyond the Noise

UI elections will always be colourful, noisy, and dramatic. That’s part of the charm. But hall loyalty, departmental allegiance, popularity, or familiarity should never outweigh competence, vision, and courage. Before casting your vote, pause amid the chants and banners. Read the manifestos. Look at achievements. Think carefully about who can actually serve the student body, not just your hall, your department, or your friends. Popularity may get a candidate on stage, but only vision, integrity, and courage will ensure real leadership and the future of student governance depends on the choices you make today.