AAUA: Mass Communication's Victory, Our Purple is our Pride

Fear The Pen...

Friday Omosola 

The student's electoral committee (SUEC) of Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba Akoko has announced Kolade Ogunsanmi Olumide (Multiple) as the president-elect of the students union government for the 2020/2021 academic session, having polled 886 votes to defeat his opponent Adinlewa Bisodun Joseph (Master B) who managed to score 863 votes. 

Declaring the winner at the information center technology (ICT) of the University, the SEC chairman, Dr. Aina Stephen said Kolade Ogunsanmi Olumide politically known as multiple having gathered the total highest votes number is hereby declared the winner for the election which was held on Tuesday 28th of September. 

Other elected executives were Salami Kemisola (Kemzy) as Vice President who polled 939 votes to defeated her opponent Olakunle Oluwadamilola Gladys (D.Gladys) who polled 806, Adeyefa Tolulope (Elite) emerged unopposed as the General secretary, Akinsulure Simbo clinched public relations officer (PRO) seat as unopposed, Adebayo Adewale (DON), also won the Financial secretary seat as unopposed.

Also, emerged winners were Abe Busuyi Ayoola, Treasurer u opposed, Odole Mojisola (Voice) Welfare Director unopposed while Okeke Patrick (Pattoski), Social Director polled 1150 votes to defeated his opponent Adebayo Korede(Cruzzy) with 554 votes and Jackson Oluwafemi (Jackson) emerged as the sports director after poling 929 votes to beat his opponent Olatunja Oluwafemi (Paul Zicco) who polled 797, Akinwalere Omoniyi (Neyol) clinched Assistant General secretary as he polled 872 votes to beat his opponent Ojo Isaac known as Apostle who gathered 853 votes.

 It could be recalled that the election had earlier been fixed to hold the second semester of the last session but witnessed several postponements due to some reasons.

The election was free and fair 

Shortly after the announcement of Kolade Olumide, politically known as Multiple as the newly elected students union presidents, the dean of students affairs, Chief security officers(CSO), lecturer from the department of mass communication, and students tagged the victory the people's choice and the process free and fair. 

Speaking after the announcement, the dean of students affairs, Professor Segun Akanbi noted that the election was free and fair.

"We have seen that the election was free and fair, despite all the hitches, but we were able to achieve our aims with the help of God. What led to the hitches experienced was not from the voter's side non-management but hoodlums who wanted to cause trouble, because those that were on the ground to vote are more than actual numbers we accredited".

He, however, debunked the rumor flying around that the election was rigged in favor of some candidates who were tagged the management choice.

"If I will still be the dean of students affairs, come next election, I will prefer to go by faculty by faculty and once particular faculty have cast their vote and their time elapsed, they will not be given a chance to exercise their franchise again", said the dean.

Also, he added that the management was not aware of thugs who deprived some faculties and departments like Social and management sciences  

Furthermore, he urged the students to always remain calm in life and be responsible as an undergraduate, as their irresponsible displays led to injuring some students while some fainted along the process. 

Addressing the issues of no ambulance on the ground to convey the wonder and fainted students, he said, "The chairman students union electoral committee wrote a letter to the school health center to request for ambulances but due to some issues, the ambulances were replaced with Hilux at the later hour which will be addressed in the next election".

He added that the management was not aware of the thug's accusation claiming to have deprived students from the faculty of social and management sciences, faculty of law, and department of mass communication of exercising their franchises. 

" We are inside the information technology center (ICT) and we do not know what is going on outside but am assuring you that those students who are involved in the act of thuggery and impersonation are going to be restricted"

The chief security officer, Mr. Oluseye Alademomi Peter blamed the planning of the election which allowed the students to vomit troubles in the ground control aspect. 

"The election was free and fair but not without drawbacks which led to the starting and finishing late, but we were able to overcome and in the next election, we are going to improve on the preparation".

We broke the jinx - Mass Communication Lecturer 

Mr. Toyin Adinlewa, a lecturer from the department of mass communication expressed happiness about seeing a student from the department emerging as president for the first time in history. 

"I was very happy when the news of 'we won' hit the airwave because they were not successful in rigging the election. The only time this department had produced students union executives (SU) was in the 2016/2017 set where we have the Senate president, chief judges, and others.

We have contested for more than four times and the victory was not by our side but this time, God gave us the victory, and the curse was broken".

He also noted that what made the difference and paved the way for the victory was how the head of the department (HOD), lecturers, and stakeholders addressed the issues by mobilizing students for the election.

"Lecturers have not been participating in the election but this time around, we took the candidate to all the departmental heads and students campaigning and demanding for their total support and votes to help us claim the mandate. When the election was going on, we were around calling our students to come out en masse to vote including those under our project supervision. But we thank God we won despite denying our students to vote".

Adinlewa added that the success was a plus for the department and will also serve as a training ground for the students of the department in practical aspect by covering events organized by the union, 

He advised the newly elected president not to sideline the department and endeavor to give all necessary attention and remembered where his origin was.

Also reacting to the victory during his Mass Communication and society (MAC 305) class held at the department relaxation center (MRC), Dr. Lamidi Ishola, the chairman, Ondo state Nigerian institute of public relations and lecturer of mass communication department described the victory as a liberation for the department and a chance to always remain the best department on campus.

"After four trials, the department finally broke the jinx through Kolade Olumide known as multiple. I am quite sure that he will deliver, make the department proud, and leave a good legacy for others who will be contesting after him".

Students reactions...

Some of the students who spoke after the election confessed the election was peaceful, free, fair, and transparent but faulted the organized aspect.

Seyifunmi Francis Adeosun, a 300 level student from the department of law said the students union electoral committee should have made proper preparation to curb the struggle for votes that dominate the election. 

"We normally had GST examinations in this institution, not the first nor second times and it was not jam-packed like this, therefore, I would say there was no adequate preparation for the election because they should have made everybody be on a single line".

Ayodele Johnson affirmed that the election was fair to all participants but not free to voters who had to struggle before gaining access to CBT to cast their vote.

He urged the SEC and management to ensure the next election experience a new development in the area of planning. 

Other students who spoke with this reporter said the election was one of the best he has ever witnessed in recent times and applauded the students for turning up to vote for their preferred candidates.

“No one could say the Multiple will be the winner even 20 minutes to the end of the election but things flipped after 10 minutes.”