LASUSU Election: Who Decides the Result?

By Damilare Adeyeye 

Perhaps, the majority believe that the final outcome of the Lagos State University Students' Union election is not truly the reflection of the decision of the student populace. While some assume that the results are usually tampered with by some high-powered individuals within the university, it is a totally conceived notion of some people that the election is always manipulated by some 'big' and influential persons beyond the four walls of LASU. 

Notwithstanding, as another LASUSU election draws closer again, the debate of who truly decides the election remains unabated with some persons making palpable references to previous elections.

First things first, a school of thought, among students believes that the outcome of the LASUSU election is always decided before the actual voting exercise, by some student politicians who are aware of the game, and how deep it goes. 

These persons are pictured as critical stakeholders in the institution's electoral process. Some members of this group are perhaps graduates, past and incumbent executive or legislative office holders, who are noted to have built a strong connection throughout the length and breadth of the university. These “almighty’’ stakeholders are said to wield so much influence, control, and power to always make decisions on whom to emerge as leaders of the students' union at any point in time. 

Most times, many student aspirants jostling for positions, hang around these so-called stakeholders, in order to win their hearts for many electoral favours. According to some persons, the caucus of critical stakeholders demands certain things of which higher bidders amongst the aspirants are anointed and supported. 

Frequently, this group of people is the godfathers and godmothers of the political scene, and any aspirant who never seeks their support only does that at his/her peril. These people are said to be very dynamic in their choice as their preferred candidate could be decided in the early hours of the election. 

It is believed that no matter how you engage with students, regardless of your popularity or the competency of your leadership skills, if you have not been backed by the "capacity" leaders and women leaders, you are only fighting a losing battle. 

Second, some radical students believe that the school management is not always neutral in the determination of the outcome of students' union election. According to their belief, some persons in the leadership hierarchy of the university also take some interest in certain candidates. 

The choice of the school management was believed to be someone, who will entirely be controlled and accountable to the management. It is believed that if you are too radical in activism, always tackle management's policies or always fight for the rights of students, your chances of winning any LASUSU election are slim.

  

This, according to a particular section of students, is because the management will want someone that will obey their policies and even put them into effect without any form of questioning. Essentially, the management would want people who only have consultation and consolidation as options for making demands and not radical political leaders with a confrontational spirit and a somewhat rugged mentality that would both confuse and irritate them.

It is believed that if you are too radical in activism, always tackle management's policies or always fight for the rights of students, your chances of winning any LASUSU election are slim.

Moreover, a small chunk of students firmly believes that voting is the only determinant of elections. They believe that the higher the number of votes an aspirant secures, the higher the chances of bagging electoral victory. To this set of students, our votes count even to the last minute of the election. 

They also point out that if the students massively go in a particular direction and vote for their preferred candidate in great numbers, no power within or beyond can manipulate the results. The argument goes further to say that students must always come out during elections, endure the process, vote, and be observant in a peaceful manner. 

Conclusively, while the argument on who decides the electoral outcome during the LASUSU election continues to trail and linger, this writer belongs to the school of thought that states that our votes count! The popular public decision perhaps cannot be jeopardized, shortchanged, or manipulated.

Hence, the onus is on all students to participate in the forthcoming LASUSU election, and to vote right leaders with clean hearts and plain consciences!