‘Multiple’ Makes History, Emerges As AAUASUA President, Dean And Others React

The Students’ Union Electoral Committee (SUEC) of the Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko has announced Kolade Ogunsanmi Olumide (politically known as Multiple) as the President-Elect of the Students’ Union Government for the 2020/2021 academic session. During the election, he polled 886 votes to defeat his opponent, Adinlewa Bisodun Joseph (Master B), who managed to score 863 votes. 

Declaring the winner at the Information Centre Technology (ICT) of the University, the SUEC Chairman, Dr Aina Stephen, said Kolade Ogunsanmi Olumide gathered the highest number of votes, winning the election held on Tuesday the 28th of September.

Other elected executives include Salami Kemisola (Kemzy) as Vice President who polled 939 votes to defeat her opponent, Olakunle Oluwadamilola Gladys (D.Gladys) who polled 806. Adeyefa Tolulope (Elite) emerged as the General Secretary, Akinsulure Simbo clinched the position of Public Relations Officer (PRO) and Adebayo Adewale (DON) won the Financial Secretary seat, all running unopposed.

Other winners include Abe Busuyi Ayoola, Treasurer, Odole Mojisola (Voice) Welfare Director, Okeke Patrick (Pattoski) Social Director and Jackson Oluwafemi (Jackson) as the Sports Director, Akinwalere Omoniyi (Neyol) clinched the position of Assistant General Secretary.

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 Multiple’s win, the Dean of Students Affairs, Chief Security Officers (CSO), a lecturer from the Department of Mass Communication and students tagged the victory as the people’s choice, noting that the process was 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 rumour flying around that the election was rigged in favour 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 harassed some faculties and departments including the Social and Management Sciences.  

He urged the students to always remain calm and be responsible as their irresponsible displays led to the injury of some students during the election. 

Addressing the lack of an ambulance to convey wounded students and those who fainted, he said: “The chairman students union electoral committee wrote a letter to the school health centre 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.”

“We are inside the Information Technology Centre (ICT) and we do not know what is going on outside but I 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 foment trouble. 

“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 

Mr Toyin Adinlewa, a lecturer from the Department Of Mass Communication expressed happiness about seeing a student from the department emerge 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 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 mobilising 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.”

Mr Adinlewa added that the success was good for the department and will serve as a training ground for the students of the department encouraging them to cover events organised by the union.

He advised the newly elected president not to sideline the department and endeavour to give it all the necessary attention.

Also reacting to the victory during his Mass Communication and Society (MAC 305) Class held at the department’s relaxation centre (MRC), Dr Lamidi Ishola, the Chairman of the Ondo State Nigerian Institute Of Public Relations and a lecturer of the Mass Communication Department described the victory as 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 React 

Some of the students who spoke after the election agreed that the election was peaceful, free, fair and transparent but faulted its organisation.

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

He urged the SUEC and management to ensure the next election experiences 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 that Multiple will be the winner even 20 minutes to the end of the election but things flipped after 10 minutes.”