By Joy Oghenemine Uloho
A major political figure in the University of Benin (UNIBEN) Community, Scott Ogunseri, has been elected as President of the Niger Delta Student Union Government (NIDSUG) following a closely contested by-election. Students from the University of Benin (UNIBEN) and across the Niger Delta region are rejoicing at the news of his victory over his opponent, Idowu Ayemobuwa.
Expressing his gratitude to his supporters, Ogunseri thanked all those who believed in his vision and worked tirelessly to ensure his success. The election, which was reportedly conducted in a fair and free manner, used a round-off voting system to determine the winner.
The initial election, held on 8th July 2023, at Rivers State University, featured four candidates: Scott Ogunseri, Idowu Ayemobuwa, Romeo Kempade, and Michael Thinkan. However, after the first round of voting, a tie emerged with both Ogunseri and Ayemobuwa securing 18 votes each, while Kempade obtained 6 votes, and Thinkan failed to receive any votes.
As a result of the tie, a by-election was organized solely between Scott Ogunseri and Idowu Ayemobuwa. The by-election took place on 25th July 2023, at Captain Elechi Polytechnic and saw a total of 9 votes cast. Ogunseri emerged victorious with 7 votes in his favour, while Ayemobuwa received 2 votes.
The voting process was conducted by delegates representing each state in the Niger Delta region. During the initial election on 8th July, Rivers State University hosted 5 delegates from each state, while the by-election on 25th July had 1 delegate representative from each state.
The newly elected President, Scott Ogunseri, is expected to present an official press release to outline his plans and agenda for the NIDSUG. His victory has been met with enthusiasm and hope from the student community as they eagerly await the positive changes he aims to bring.