By Esther Oguntuase and Clarion Oyeronke
The students of Adekunle Ajasin University Akungba Akoko trooped out in masses to exercise their democratic right at the school's CBT center today, in a bid to vote the candidates of their choice into the SUG offices.
The election started at 9AM and ended at 6 pm. The criteria for voting were; using the school I.D card, course registration form, or school fee payment receipt. Also, students who had paid for the last semester were eligible voters for the election.
The aspirant from the Purple, and power of the pen department, Mass Communication's contestant, Kolade Ogunsanmi who is popularly known as Multiple emerged as the new President of the Students Union Government after he polled 886 votes to defeat his rival, Bisodun Adinlewa who registered 863 votes.
According to reports gathered, most students seek improvement in the conduct of the election process, which will further aid a free and fair election without any issue arising.
The Dean of Students Affairs, Prof Olusegun Akanbi called on the students of the school to always learn to remain calm in situations emanating from elections.
The Prof revealed that a little few issues were halting the process of the election at first. He added that the situation on the ground needed to be well controlled which is what they eventually did.
The Chief Security officer of the school, Mr. Ogunseye Alademo also commented on the need for students to always exercise patience in every of their endeavors in life.
The CSO advised that students as undergraduate knows the do's and don't of the election with every rule guiding it.
He however added that the election was peaceful, fair, and balanced.
However, some students in the school in an interview revealed that some actions need to be taken when conducting an election in the school to help alleviate political apathy, political resentment, and any sort of violent act that might arise in the future.
A law student in the school, Akinwulure Semilore stated that he was not impressed with the way the election was conducted.
"I think that we can be better than this. I've been here since morning and some people have been fighting. There is poor arrangement and organization."
Deborah Oluwabunmi, a 200l student of linguistics and Yoruba revealed that she had an issue while generating her PIN. "I got a PIN after a fervent prayer." She said.
Sumisola Ruth, a 200l student of Linguistics and Yoruba said that she was not pleased with the conduct of the election.
A 400l student from the Mass Communication Department, who is currently the Editor-in-Chief of Echo Media AAUA, Roland Bayode monitored the election process and revealed that the election was free and fairly conducted in the best interest of the school as well as for the students.
He disclosed in an interview that there were issues at some time, but that some staff in the school were right on point to use the experience to handle the whole thing.
He said, "I have served as an election observer for State Election in Nigeria, this I must say is another dimension from which I learnt something. The students were just too different, in their style, agitations, and participation."
The Echo Media Editor also commend the effort of the school management, especially the DSA who stood on the ground moving around to ensure safety and peaceful election. "I'm sure it was not an easy task for the DSA to deal with, but beyond words, his synergy and that of Dr. Shade Ade Johnson who came to handle the pressure when the boat was sinking off makes the difference."
Roland has however condemned the rate at which students disseminate unverified information as one of what constitutes drama at the election ground.
He said, "Misinformation is a great threat to every peaceful society even in tertiary institutions. I noticed some students who have not even voted or entered the voting center were on the election ground ranting and giving false information about the election process. People said a lot, which from my observations, most of those assertions were nothing but a load of baloney. I will only suggest and advise that students of the school should take note of every information they give on issues. There was a high tension on the ground because misinformation aggravated them the most."
Lolade Aderibigbe emphasized that technology has made things easier and that the school should deploy the use of technology in handling further elections.
"There are many ways of getting things done, I was hit and wounded in the crowd which is not right or fair on us. We want a better system that will take out all the stress we are passing through to exercise our votes."
Oyindamola Olatunde, a 400l student of Economics stated that she was standing for hours and had not been able to vote. "They were just pushing us back while we were just waiting for our turn to vote."
Another student, Opeyemi Onanuga explained that the place was jam-packed with many people which said is wrong. She suggested that using the Obasanjo Multi-Purpose Hall would have alleviated the crisis that occurred.
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