A.A.U GETS NEW S.U.G OFFICIALS.

                      

                           A.A.U GETS NEW S.U.G OFFICIALS. A.A.U GETS NEW S.U.G OFFICIALS

                     

                      As Physically Challenged Student Contests To Be Director of Welfare.

                                                        

 Authorities of the Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, (A.A.U) in Edo State have constituted the students' Union Executive Council. 

The election was held amid complaints and allegation of manipulation of the electoral process and undue interference by officials of the Edo State Government.

The recently conducted election had a blind student who made history by contesting to be the Institution's Students' Union Director of Welfare.

Prior to the election day, the candidates were subjected to rigorous security screening both in Ekpoma and Benin-City, the State capital. 

Some of the students and a few of the aspirants initially kicked against taking the screening to Benin-City. They contended that screenings are always done conventionally in Ekpoma and not Benin-City, stating further that there was something sinister about taking security screening to Benin. 

They were however assured that the exercise in Benin will be fair and just to all. 

Three candidates keenly contested for the position of the Union's Presidency. 

Tanyere E.  Richard, 300 level student of the department Political Science, Israel O. Eboiyehi, 400 level Medical Laboratory Science Department and Khalifa Oshiomhole a 400 level Engineering Student campaigned vigorously  to be elected President.

At the end of voting, the ballot boxes were taken to the New Lecture Theatre (NLT) where sorting and collation of results took place.

 Announcing the results, the A.A.U Students’ Union Electoral Commission headed by the Dean of Students, Prof. Isaac Aigbedion, declared Oshiomhole as the winner of the election having scored 2116 votes to beat his closest rival Richard who polled 1351 votes.

Also, 200 level Theater and Media Art Student, Sandra Ekhator who joined the race barely three weeks to the election won the Vice-Presidency with 1895 votes.

While John Isaac Egharuwa, 300 level Education Student won the position of the  Secretary General with 2,008 votes.

Meanwhile,  Mathew Akhabue, a 300 level blind Student of the Department of History and International Diplomacy lost the position of the Director of Welfare to  his closest rival Jennifer Okonober from Sociology department who pulled 2,081 to emerge victorious. 

The inauguration ceremony which took place at the Students' Affairs Division Conference Room had in attendance the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Cordelia Agbebaku who was represented by the Dean of Students, Prof. Aigbedion. The Deputy Registrar, Students Affairs and other Staff of the Students' Affairs Division of the Institution. 

The new executives were urged to take their academic activities serious while functioning efficiently in their various offices.

Their roles were reeled out to them by the Dean of Students after taking the oath of office.

In his inaugural speech, the President of the Students' Union, Comrade Khalifa Oshiomhole thanked the students for electing him and congratulated the School Management for conducting a successful election. 

He promised to serve the students with the fear of God and to always protect their interest.

He stated further that he was ready to be a good mediator between the students and the School Management by constantly relating students' issues to the Management and vice versa. 

 

Other newly sworn in officials include Royal Ikpen,  Assistant Secretary General, Palmar A. Justice, Financial Secretary. Cletus Oriahbor, Director of information,  Stanley,  Director of Sport and Moses Director of Social Activities.

The new S.U.G officials now have their work cut out for them as their main task is how to get the school authority and the Edo State Government to reduce or possibly reverse the astronomical increase in the school fees payable by the 100 level students aside other high expectations from the students.

However, some students of the University are of the view that the new S.U.G may not do much as the fear of victimization is the beginning of wisdom for most of the officials who have occupied various positions in the Union after the Itote Damisa’s led administration where S.U.G officials were summarily dismissed from school and results withheld on trump- up charges. 

The new President, therefore, must now work to prove cynics wrong as most of his critics believe that his alleged closed links with the Edo State Government and other top officials of Governor Adams Oshiomhole’s Administration got him the position.