By Raymond Ebireri and Osaro Matthew.
The Students’ Electoral Commission of the University of Benin has released the guidelines for the conduct of the Student Union elections for the 2023/2024 academic session. It can be recalled that Student Union activities on campus have been suspended since April due to an unfortunate incident that occurred at the University Staff Club in April 2024. After an investigation into the incident, the University Management deemed it necessary to suspend all Student Union activities indefinitely.
However, with the recently approved calendar for the 2023/2024 academic session, the Student Union election has been scheduled to take place on 17th October, suggesting a possible lifting of the ban. The election will usher in a new set of student representatives for the 2023/2024 academic session. In line with the electoral guidelines, the election will no longer be held physically but will instead be conducted via an electronic voting system. Only duly matriculated and registered students for the current session are eligible to contest the election, with the exception of final-year students, spillover students, direct-entry students, 100-level students, and diploma students.
The sale of nomination forms will commence from Monday 7th to Wednesday 9th October 2024, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Room 4, Students’ Affairs Division. All forms of electioneering campaigns must end on Manifesto Day, 16th October 2024, by 11:59 p.m.
Collection and return of nomination form for students union executive and parliamentary aspirants is scheduled to take place from 7th to 9th while verification of CGPA will take place on the 10th.
Screening of aspirants by security department and students affairs division will take place from 11th to 14th. The names of cleared candidates will be displayed on the 15th by the ELECO.
Manifestoes of the candidates will be heard by the university community from 10am to 3pm in a location that will be disclosed later.
University of Benin students will be given the opportunity to exercise their rights to select their representatives in the Students Union executive and parliamentary positions on October 17,2024.
The declaration of results will also be done same day with candidates given a window to send in their receipt of appeals before 12pm the next day to be accessed and reviewed.
Swearing in ceremony of newly elected executive officials, inaugural meeting of parliament and swearing in of principal officers of the parliament (38th assembly) is set to take place on the 21st, 23rd and 25th respectively.
Support ACJ UNIBEN's goal of always bringing truth to light.
Excellent campus journalism requires financial support. Yet, it is this very journalism that contributes to an informed campus community, transparency in educational institutions, and an engaged student body. To continue offering free access to top-notch campus journalism, we invite you to consider making a modest contribution to this worthwhile endeavor. Your support for ACJ UNIBEN's campus journalism ensures its relevance and availability to all students, free of charge, fostering an informed and active campus community.
DONATE