All is not well with the National Association of Ondo State Students (NAOSS) following the emergence of two factional Presidents from separate congresses held by the students leaders in the State.
In the election which had four Presidential candidates, Adeolu Iwakun from Adekunle Ajasin University (AAU) Akungba-Akoko and Akintoye Ebiwonjumi a student of Federal University Technology, Akure (FUTA) were said to have emerged Presidents from different congresses.
DAILY POST learnt that at the congresses held last Saturday, Iwakun was sworn-in at Solton hotel in Akure, while Ebiwonjumi was sworn-in at FUTA and attended by over 40 students senators.
A group led by Ebiwonjumi is pointing accusing fingers to Governor Olusegun Mimiko’s adies and a member of the State Assembly as the brains behind the crisis.
It was gathered that the accused political aides allegedly camped some senators at some hotels located at Alagbaka and Oba-Ile in Akure a day before the congress, with an instruction to vote for a particular candidate.
On the fateful day, the said senators were said to have been tagged “Special Senators”, while those who are against their wish were allegedly denied entry to the venue of the election at Adegbemile in Akure.
Trouble however started when the said special candidate was sensed to be losing despite the instruction given to the delegates to vote for him.
Not comfortable with what may likely be the end of the process, one of the Governor’s aides was said to have given another instruction to a thug, who allegedly snatched the ballot boxes which led to an uproar as the anti-cultism police started shooting sporadically to disperse the crowd.
Following this, the Chairman of the electoral Committee, Raheem Abdulraman declared the election inconclusive.
But, the said political aides, were alleged to have relocated the venue of the election to Oba-Ile with their special senators and later declared Iwakun as the newly elected President of NAOSS, while Ebiwonjumi was also declared winner by over 40 senators.
Speaking on this, Ebiwonjumi described the whole process as illegal, saying the election was allegedly hijacked by government agents.
He alleged that Chairman of the election committee had passed out from the University of Benin six years ago, stressing that the constitution does not allow a non-student to hold such position.
He called for another fresh election that will be devoid of government’s intervention and allow the students to choose who will represent them.
Also, the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Vice President on Affairs, Gbenga Ayenuro accused the government aides of camping fake senators in hotels, thereby preventing genuine senators from gaining entry to the venue of the election.
Ayenuro also called for another fresh election where students will be allowed to choose their leaders.
But, Iwakun explained that there was nothing like relocation of election venue to Oba-Ile, saying the venue sent to candidates initially was Oba-Ile not Adegbemile.
He dismissed the claims by his opponent, saying he was elected in a free and fair election without government support.
All efforts to speak with the immedate past President, Afolayan Awodola proved abortive as his phone line was unavailable as at the time of filing this report.
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