For students of the Faculty of Law, Lagos State University (LASU), the election for the 2011/2012 leadership is about the most competitive in the history of their association. From time, the faculty’s election is regarded as the most vibrant not because of the money spent on campaigns but the strategies and the gusto deployed in the process.
The two-week election period keeps students on their toes. Everybody seems to watch the dealings. One more feature is that nobody can predict the results before election because any slight mistake might be held against the admired candidate. This year’s election was a bolt from the blue as a perceived greenhorn defeated the experienced and popular.
“It was again an affirmation of the faculty’s custom,” explained an unperturbed 500 Level student, who pleaded anonymity.
Opening of hostilities started with the setting up of the LASULAWS Independent Electoral Committee (LASULAWS IEC) by the Students’ Representative Council (SRC). The eight-man committee composed of two members from each class had Abdulrahman Yussuf, in 500-Level, as Chairman. Mubarak Tijani, in 400-Level is the Returning Officer while Alphonsus Inegbedion was the secretary.
The IEC lifted the ban on political activities on February 17. Consequently, the timetable and procedure for elections into the executive and SRC were released. After the sale of forms, screening of aspirants followed. Twenty-seven were screened for the SRC; two were dropped. Fifteen were screened for the executive.
On March 1, election into the SRC were conducted. At the end of that election, five members emerged from each level except in 500-Level where four candidates emerged unopposed.
Later, a presidential debate was held at the Okunnuga Hall. The hall was filled to capacity with students willing to listen to what the four presidential aspirants had in store for them. At the debate organised by Black and White, a Law student magazine, and monitored by the IEC, the panelists were Afizah Atanda, Abigail Ojelabi; former Vice-President of LASU Student Union, Ope Falase and Tomilola Sangoremi; all 500-Level Law students. Many attested to their competence in grilling the presidential aspirants on their administrative ability. Questions were on the challenges and prospects of the faculty.
The publisher of Black and White magazine and the coordinator of the debate, Adetunji Akinyemi, also in 500-Level, said his group organised the debate to reinforce the emergence of the best candidate for the faculty.
“We believe that if the electorate had some time with the candidates to see how they stand, it would be able to choose and vote wisely”.
The manifesto day decided the fate of the aspirants. Beginning with the office of the Assistant General Secretary, the candidate with the immaculate promise was applauded and acknowledged. At the turn of the president, the stage took another dimension as students were attentive to every word uttered by the candidates.
Yussuf Lawal, former Sport Director, who wanted the top job, said: “Having transformed the face of sports and reignited sporting activities in the faculty, now if voted president, I’ll ensure we have a befitting Law dinner, renovate students’ common room, and see that we have a first of its kind students’ welfare packages and retreats”.
Oladipupo Ajayi is the former Public Relations Officer. He had a two-point agenda: academics and welfare. According to him, academics borders on student’s results, tutorials and aiding their academic excellence. On extra curricula activities, he promised to facilitate students’ internship at the ministry of justice and legal departments of organisations.
Kujembola Adeoye, perceived as the greenhorn, made academics his focal point. He had represented the faculty in various moot and debate competitions.
He said: “I have represented the faculty in debates, moot and mock trials where the flag of LASULAWS has been held high”. He promised to “organise symposia and seminars, publish a LASULAWS jurist Law journal, set up a committee on students’ results, set up a counselling unit to address students’ academic and emotional problems, organise a gorgeous law dinner, and organise a southwest regional moot competition”.
Yaqub Eleto, the former General Secretary, recounted what he called his “tremendous contributions to the policies and administration of the change team that led to the development of the faculty”, saying: “I am experienced enough to pilot the affairs to the much awaited promise land.”
On election day, proceedings started at 10am and lasted till 2pm. At the end of the collation and counting, Kujembola Adeoye defeated the others to emerge the President. Oluwakemi Oyekangun defeated Pelumioluwa Sangosanya to become the Vice-President. Other winners are Kingsley Okhai (general secretary), Gbenga Folorunsho (public relations officer), Oluwaseun Tijani (assistant general secretary), Ibukun Bamgbose (director of protocol), Abdul Ganiu Salisu (sport director) and Temitope Rufai (exchequer).
The new executive was sworn in by Tope Kuti, the Chief Justice of LASULAWS High Court. After this, President Kujembola swore-in the members of the SRC and conducted the election to the principal officers of the house. The officers are Abubakar Musa (speaker), Olawale Adeniyi cleark), Jibola Salvador (deputy speaker) and Olayinka Aregbesola (chief whip).
Culled from The Nation
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