Faculty of Social Sciences Election Marred by Delay and Bullying of Electorate

By Akeredolu Israel

As of 1:21 p.m. on November 1, 2023, the Faculty of Social Sciences (FSS) has yet to commence its scheduled voting process, which was initially set for 10 a.m. Students gathered at the faculty entrance have endured scorching sunlight, growing increasingly anxious as hours pass with no sign of voting.

Oreoluwa, representing ZARA, confirmed that the election was supposed to begin at 10 a.m., but as of 12:21 p.m, no progress had been made.

In an effort to clarify the situation, the ACJ agent was granted access to the voting room. Akinfolarin Olumide Isiah, the Public Relations Officer of the Independent Electoral Committee overseeing the Lasusu election, assured concerned parties that "everything is under control." He emphasized their commitment to a free, fair, and transparent election and explained that E-voting was introduced to prevent overcrowding and maintain order.

Isiah clarified that the responsibility for voting lies in the hands of the students after they receive their voting codes, allowing them to exercise their choice.

An undisclosed source revealed that a network glitch caused the initial delay in starting the election. However, tensions have escalated within the Faculty of Social Sciences as of 1:50 p.m, with limited control.

An anonymous source expressed dissatisfaction with the election process, citing malpractice and intimidation, especially involving higher-level students pressuring their juniors to relinquish their voting tokens.

Roheem, a student within the faculty, expressed doubts about the fairness of the election, stating that students were being restricted from exercising their voting rights. He called on electoral bodies to address these issues, emphasizing the importance of setting a positive example from the grassroots level.