By Ikenna Nwokedi
The Student Affairs’ Department, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, led by the Dean, Prof. Makodi Biereenu-Nnabugwu and the Sub-Dean, Dr. Chibueze Onwuzuligbo in company of UNECO members on Friday, 16th August 2024 interfaced and held a physical meeting with qualified candidates for the upcoming Students’ Union Government (SUG) Elections scheduled to hold Friday, 23rd August 2025.
The meeting cum interaction which took place at the Leadership Hall of the Students’ Affairs Department was to inundate the aspirants on the ethos guiding the upcoming SUG elections for the 2024/25 academic session and what is expected of them towards having a seamless electioneering process.
In his address, the Dean of Student Affairs, Prof. Makodi Biereenu-Nnabugwu stated that leadership is a process that requires leaders to reconcile different interests as the society made up of humans is one that is conflictual. Prof. Biereenu-Nnabugwu affirmed that the Students’ Affairs Department was set up to stand as a bridge between the University management and body of the students.
The Students’ Affairs Dean informed that the meeting was to ensure that all parties are on the same page towards having a hitch-free and fair elections come Friday, 23rd August 2024. The scholar advised the contestants to study the rules, laws and constitution guiding SUG elections and be well informed on how to go about their campaigns. He further stated that all questions and complaints should be addressed to the UNECO Secretary, Barrister Chidinma Iweama.
On his part, the Sub-Dean, Dr. Chibueze Onwuzuligbo admonished the students to be wary and careful about what they publish, post and their comments especially on social media as it can be detrimental to their aspirations for the upcoming elections. Dr. Onwuzuligbo attested to the fact that the Students Affairs Department, UNECO and Safety Unit are unbiased umpires that would ensure that the upcoming election would go down as one of the best since the history of the SUG Election process in the institution.
The Sub-Dean also disclosed that ban on campaigns has been lifted and shortlisted candidates can commence their campaigns. The scholar highlighted some of the campaign guidelines such as campaign commencing on Wednesday, 14th August 2024 and expected to end on the midnight of Thursday, 22nd August 2024 while others are adhering to Student’s Union Constitution and UNECO’s guidelines; conducting campaigns in a peaceful and respectful manner; ban on motorcades during electioneering exercises; signing of posters by candidates; posting of posters at designated places and posters appearing in black and white with no colours.
The Sub-Dean informed that the Students’ Judicial Council (SJC) and Students’ Senate Council (SSC) Elections will hold on Monday, August 19th and Wednesday, 21st August 2024 respectively. He thanked the candidates and UNECO members for honouring the invitation while urging all to ensure that the upcoming elections would be seamless and hitch-free.
Also speaking, representative of the Safety Unit, Mr. Onyeka Chinedu (O.C Investigation) informed the candidates that genuine Identification Cards will be required for the SJC and SSC Elections. He called on all candidates to ensure they abide by the rules and regulations regarding the upcoming elections.
In a vote of thanks from one of the aspirants, Uchenna Umeh congratulated the Dean and Sub-Dean on their appointments. He promised that the candidates will abide by all rules and regulations guiding the conduct of the upcoming SUG Elections.
Highlights of meeting was question and answer sessions as well as group photograph between the Dean, Sub-Dean, UNECO members and the candidates.
Let there be no online voting for the votes to count