- Fears Legal Action
Cletus ASUQUO, Calabar
Efforts have been taken by the authorities of the University of Cross River State, UNICROSS, to prevent what would have been a revolution within the school, as a result of the fall-out of the recently conducted Students Union Government, SUG election.
Mr Igbeng Emmanuel Lazarus, popularly known as Thywill, had been declared winner of the election, but upon a petition by his opponent, Mr Ndep Kenolyll, to the effect that Lazurus used his nickname instead of his real name during the contest, the school had indicated the readiness to inaugurate Kenolyll as the SUG president, even though he came second.
Lazarus had engaged a lawyer who wrote to the university authorities questioning why his opponent was billed for inauguration on Tuesday, when he did not win the election. There were speculations that a certain top government official was not comfortable with Lazarus and had pushed for the inauguration of Kenolyll as the president.
Apparently aware of the revolution that was to take place in the university on Tuesday if Lazarus was not inaugurated, the university management decided to apply the brakes on the matter, even as it ordered the immediate suspension of all students union government activities.
Acting Vice Chancellor of the university, Prof. Stephen N. Ochang said “the attention of the management of the University of Cross River State has been drawn to a planned protest by some students of the University arising from the recently conducted Students’ Union Government election.
“Management has given careful consideration to the matter referring to the said SUG Election and has decided to suspend all SUG activity in the University till further notice. The decision of the management to suspend activities of the SUG is to avoid any disruption of the on-going examination. Students are therefore advised in their own interest to prepare for their examination that commences on Wednesday 14th August 2024.
“Issues concerning SUG will be re-visited at a later date. Students should also note that necessary security has been put in place to stop any act tantamount to the breakdown of law and order in the University”.
Speaking in an exclusive interview with TNN, Lazarus revealed that he did not use his nickname on the ballot as alleged by his opponent, but that the nickname was used at the end of his name.
He disclosed that the electoral board led by the Dean of Student Affairs, had accepted his name on the ballot after he had undergone several screenings which he said was a requirement for his election.
“I had bought the form for elections, done screenings at the security unit, did everything that was to be done. My name is Igbeng Emmanuel Lazarus, I used two of my names and added Thywill because that is how the students know me. Even the former past president used their nickname on the ballot, I do not know why my own is different,” he said
He noted that he did not receive any letter of petition against him until three days after his election. “I didn’t get a copy of the petition, all I saw was online. Why didn’t the electoral board disqualify me from the beginning? If you check, my name is online. My opponent saying I impersonated a name or used my nickname is not true. I am from Abi Local Government Area. I contested and won.
“A 3- man committee was set up by the vice Chancellor to look into the matter. I was called upon to sign an undertaking that any decision they take, I will accept and that my supporters will not protest or cause problems in the school.
“I told the committee that I cannot guarantee that because the elections initially the polling unit in other campuses had a problem, they hacked into the portal and elections were cancelled. A rerun was conducted and I won.
“I told them that I cannot control my entire supporters because this election did not happen only in the Calabar campus alone. Since then, the committee has not referred back to us, only for me to hear that Tuesday is inauguration. The matter is in court as we speak.”
On his part, Kenolyll said he wrote a petition to the university due to impersonation and fake names on the ballot. “Constitutionally, those students who conducted elections can petition. I was not satisfied with the outcome of the results so I petitioned.
“The name on the ballot is his nickname, not his original name. You can’t use a nickname; that’s my argument in the petition. The committee has not disclosed the outcome of the matter so you can reach out to the management so you can get their opinion as well.”
TNN could not get any response from the dean of students’ affairs. Messages sent to him via his Whatsapp number did not also get responses.
