By Osaro Matthew, Obende Deborah, Banke Ini, Maureen Owobu, & Adegoke Kudirat Adedoyin

The much-anticipated Faculty of Life Sciences elections which took place on Tuesday, November 7, 2023, at the Life Science open field has seen Agbontaen Adams of Microbiology, Ezeuba Chioma of Biochemistry, and a host of others emerge victorious. The election, which was scheduled to begin at 9am and end by 2pm, started at 10:49am. Delays in the arrangement of ballot boxes, preparation of the election ground, and the arrival of agents and observers were the causes of the delay in the commencement of the election. With the help of the assistant dean of the faculty and security operatives, the NALSS Electoral Commission, ably led by Hon. Jeremiah Osikhene Irenaye successfully prepared the election ground for students to cast their votes at 10:49am.

The election saw a significant turnout of students, with 1618 accredited voters across the 7 different departments in the faculty. Students lined up and were accredited by agents seated under a canopy. After being accredited, students were given ballot papers to cast their votes for their respective candidates, while observers and campus journalists watched keenly. They were then directed to get their fingers marked as evidence of their participation in the process. Life Science students showed a participatory political culture, with some waiting until the sorting, counting, and announcement of results.

During the course of the Election, some challenges were met as around 11:51am, the election was placed on hold when valid ballot papers surprisingly ran out. Impatient students broke through a barricade, trampling on other students in the process. Election officials, together with security operatives, had to change the student’s queue to enhance a smooth electoral process. Along the line, a commotion erupted beside the election ground, allegedly involving a confrontation between a student and an electoral official, with the former taken away by security operatives. The electoral process became slow due to the lack of ballot papers, leading to an uproar as students insisted on casting their votes. This uproar intensified when security officials demanded that the election should come to an end at 4:00pm, following a 2-hour additional time to make up for the delay and late commencement of the election.

Sorting and counting of votes began immediately as observers and ACJ UNIBEN were on the ground to ensure a credible process. The Director of Sports election saw a fierce competition between Ebibo Tekede and Princess Aminu, resulting in Princess Aminu emerging victorious with a substantial lead of 90 votes.

The Director of Welfare position witnessed a similar contest between Andrew Iyere and Precious Ishokri, with Precious Ishokri securing a resounding victory with 197 votes lead.

In the race for the Secretary-General position, the faculty observed intense rivalry between Isinika White Kome and Boluwatife Kolawole, ultimately resulting in Boluwatife Kolawole prevailing with a margin of 168 votes.

Chioma Ezeuba clinched the Deputy Governor’s office with an impressive lead of 226 votes. Martyna tried but it was not possible.

Alao Amana Seniere and Agbontaen Osamudiamen Adams were the two candidates contending for the position of governor. Agbontaen Osamudiamen Adams emerged victorious with a significant lead of 204 votes, leading to jubilation and praises from his supporters.

All other positions faced no opposition, with Destiny Chris Toritseju as Public Relations Officer, Njoku Blessing Chidinma as the Financial Secretary, and Favour Obuseh taking on the role of Assistant Secretary General. Godwin Osasenaga as the Director of Socials and Chibuikem Nwafor as the Treasurer. Remarkably, each of them received a substantial number of votes, tallying at 1460 votes each.

Sources say that the Department of Environmental Management and Toxicology; Amana’s department, as well as the Department of Science and Laboratory Technology; White’s department, on Wednesday, 8th November, 2023, filled a petition before the office of the C.S.O, Dean of Student Affairs, of the University of Benin, challenging the outcome of the Election, and the entire Electoral Process. The petition was later tabled before the Dean of Life Sciences, the Asst. Dean of Life Sciences, and the NALSS Electoral Commission. The aggrieved parties reportedly prayed that the election results be totally cancelled and declared inconclusive.

Intel has it that after due constitutional protocols were followed, leading to an intensive deliberation on the petitions by the NALSS Electoral Commission, it was decided that inauguration will proceed as planned. The petitions were struck out based on reasons not made known to the ACJ UNIBEN.

The Inauguration of Elected Executives and Parliamentary Elections takes place tomorrow, Friday, 10th November, 2023. As stated by the electoral committee, the time is 12:00pm at OPT 500 lecture theater, University of Benin.

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