UNIBEN Announces Electoral Commission List for 2024 SUG Elections

UNIBEN Announces Electoral Commission List for 2024 SUG Elections
Chidinma Kalu

The management of the University of Benin (UNIBEN) on Monday, the 27th of May,  released a memo containing the list of cleared electoral commission members ahead of the 2024 student union government elections.

This news came amidst controversy concerning the management’s suspension of SUG activities and several executives due to the incidents at the senior staff club on the 12th of April, 2024.  According to the memo sent out, the Senate, in a meeting held on the 2nd of May, 2024, approved the recommendation for setting up an electoral commission, comprising representatives from the various faculties and schools across the University to oversee student affairs amongst other functions.

The memo stated that” the commission was set in place to handle issues about the interests, welfare, and development of students and conduct the election of a new set leadership”.

The list of the selected members includes;

1. Mr Collins Obhiozone (Pharmacy ) Secretary
2. Miss Idode F. (Law). Member
3. Mr Peter Omotosho (Agriculture ) member
4. Mr Eric Bassey (Arts). Member
5. Mr Eghosa T Eghiosun (Dentistry). Member
6. Mr Omosigho J. Owire(Education) member
7. Mr Caleb J. Cookeygam, (Engineering). Member
8. Mr Jeremiah Wilson-koro (Environmental sciences). Member
9. Miss Margaret Iyasele, (Life sciences ). Member
10. Miss Clara Kikeboh (Pharmacy). Member
11. Miss Lucy Eriamiatoe, (physical sciences). Member
12. Mr James Olawale (Basic Medical Sciences). Member
13. Miss Okpare Ojiyovwi (Social sciences). Member
14. Mr Osayi M Eubadoloyi (Veterinary Medicine). Member
15. Mr wisdom Omorogbe (Medicine). Member
16. Mr Stanley I Ige (Management Science). Member

The commission is to ensure the election process is carried out smoothly and efficiently, as well as maintain student decorum in the days leading up to the election, though a decision date for the election has not been selected.

In an interview with ODUWA IKEMEFUNA OBARISIAGBON, a final year student of the Faculty of Law aspiring for the position of Attorney General, revealed that the fact that an electoral commission has been set up shines bright a ray of hope on the Union’s activities being revived. However he also expressed how the suspension had put an unfortunate hold on his campaign “Upon the suspension, all my campaign plans were put on hold.. because, one can not be campaigning when the Union itself has been suspended; what is the point ?? but like I said earlier, it shines brightly a ray of hope as to the revival of the SU as a whole ”

Idemudia Erica Osamudiamhen, a final year Student of the Department of Mass Communication aspiring for the position of Assistant Secretary-General is equally excited over the management’s decision to appoint an Electoral commission  “Appointing a new electoral committee is good because with the help of the body, an election would be conducted and a new set of executives will be elected into power”. She also revealed that the suspension had an impact on her campaign cause she had to hold on, but knowing the school would rectify the issue, she kept her hopes high “The suspension did have an impact on my campaign efforts because when the Union was suspended, my hope was still high thinking they would get to resolve it within a short period of a week or two.

But when deeper issues kept arising and all that, my hope was kind of lost in the whole campaign stuff because even those I was campaigning to kept telling me that they were not interested in seeing BCs and all” she said