#FUOYEDecides21: Low Turnout as New SUG Leaders Emerge

The Federal University Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE) held its 2019/2020 Students’ Union Government election on Saturday, January 30, 2021.

The election, which should have taken place in 2020, witnessed an indefinite postponement due to the outbreak of COVID-19 and the industrial strike action taken by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).

The election, which was later scheduled to hold on Wednesday, January 27, 2021, was again shifted to the 30th of January due to undocumented reasons.

In a bid to promote free, fair and credible elections in the institution, the Union of Campus Journalists, Federal University Oye-Ekiti chapter launched a project tagged ‘Monitor FUOYESU Election (MFE)’ and deployed 18 trained observers to the seven faculties of the University.

According to all election observers, the exercise which was supposed to begin by 10 am commenced late in all faculties.

Also, despite the continued onslaught of the COVID-19 pandemic, only a few faculties observed the COVID-19 protocols. The faculties that made use of thermometers and enforced social distancing are the Faculty of Science and the Faculty of Engineering.

Candidates for certain positions were unopposed. They include the offices of the President, Vice President, Welfare Director, Public Relations Officer, Assistant General Secretary and Financial Secretary.

The offices that were contested for include the offices of the Treasurer, General Secretary, Transport Director, Office of the Sports Director and office of the Social Director.

There was a very low turnout for the election. Despite having over 18,000 students in the Federal University Oye-Ekiti, only about 900 of them came out to exercise their franchise. This equates to a 5% voter turnout.

“I don’t know why people find it hard to vote these days. Political apathy has become the order of the day. Why do people take elections day as a public holiday? Especially the youths. Is this the Nigeria we pray to live in?”, said Gbenga Olaleye, a self-proclaimed human rights activist and a 200 level student of the Business Education department.

After the collation of the votes, the ad-hoc staff took all ballot papers to the school’s administrative building where the final collation took place.

Alabi John Sunday, an unopposed candidate, emerged President with 853 votes. Ojo Isaac, also unopposed, emerged Vice President with 866 votes, Adenusi Ifebolu, who was unopposed, emerged as the Welfare Director and Ogundiran Funminiyi emerged, unopposed, as the Financial Secretary.

Unopposed, Owolabi Adekunle emerged the Assistant General Secretary. Olowookere Damilola, who also unopposed, emerged the Public Relations Officer with 845 votes.

Esan Femi was voted in as the General Secretary with 523 votes beating his two opponents, Adeyemi Kayode and Adeniyi Rilwan. Ige Kehinde was voted in as the Transport director with 552 votes, therefore beating his opponent, Oyebola Tobiloba who had 226 votes.

Kolawole Bakare was voted in as the Social Director with 559 votes beating his opponent, Paschal Obianke who had 250 votes. Falayi Ayooluwa emerged as the Sports Director with 464 votes beating his opponent, Olajide Abdul-Lateef who had 50 votes; Faweya Oluwaseun was voted in as the Treasurer with 523 votes beating his opponent, Adegbite Adewunmi, who had 342 votes.

Boluwaji Adeyemi, a member of the electoral committee, said “I can say that the election was successful although it was disappointing. The state of apathy especially in FUOYE is very bad. It is the same people who refuse to vote that will criticize the new government and write open letters. It should not be like that. Anyway, the election was free and fair.”