ATTENTION TO AN UGLY DEVELOPMENT IN UNN CONVOCATION ELECTION
1. The University of Nigeria Nsukka (UNN), a beacon of academic excellence and democratic governance, now finds itself at the heart of an unfolding electoral crisis that threatens its reputation and the principles upon which it was built. The attention of the general public is hereby called to a conspiratorial injustice, deliberate administrative extortion of alumni/graduates and a looming electoral malpractice emanating from the Convocation election of the University.
2. As an Aspirant for the Convocation Representative in the Governing Council, I'm forced to raise alarm that after going through weeks of rigorous and painstaking processes of payment for registration on remita through the UNN portal and physical submission of normination forms and registered documents to the careers services department of the institution in line with the process flow detailed in a circular issued by the office of the Registrar on the 7th of November, the university of Nigeria has yesterday 21st November without recourse to existing circular suddenly released another circular directing an entirely new process flow, an entirely new payment website, and an entirely new voting method (online voting process as against the traditional method that the Convocation has been using).
3. The most troubling part of this development is that this circular which became visible only yesterday 21st of November was clearly and mischievously backdated to carry 14th of November as it's issue date thereby raising suspicion and casting a shadow of doubt on the integrity of the process.
4. Let it also be noted that as at yesterday 21st morning, the circular that was found in the university portal was the first one detailing the first process flow. My team and I rechecked again later in the evening and noticed it has been changed. One would wonder why a circular with an issue date of 14th November would just be uploaded on the portal just yesterday 21st November.
5. According to the circular directing the first process flow and signed by the office of the registrar, the entire registration process was supposed to end on the 19th of November. So ideally it was expected that by 19th of November, every aspirant should have effected the registration of as many eligible voters as possible by accessing the remita website and paying a non refundable fee of N200 and a transaction charge of N162. There is no telling that by now Every Aspirant in this contest has spent reasonable time and resources to adhere to stipulated guidelines only to be greeted by a new development that clearly feigns ignorance of the existing.
6. The University of Nigeria Act clearly defines the Convocation and its processes. While the Vice-Chancellor chairs the Convocation, they do not possess unilateral authority to alter established procedures. Critical decisions, such as adopting an online voting system, must be deliberated in a duly constituted Convocation meeting with a quorum of at least 50 members. In such a meeting, members are expected to interrogate and verify the reliability, security, and neutrality of the proposed platform before its adoption. In addition, impartial and independent individuals must oversee the backend operations and management of any such platform to ensure fairness. None of these statutory requirements have been met in this current situation.
7. These developments suggest a deliberate attempt to manipulate the electoral process, potentially to favor a specific interest. If allowed to proceed unchecked, this not only amounts to deliberate extortion of thousands of her allumni who have completed their registrations but also sets a dangerous precedent for future elections in the university. We call on the governing council, the university Senate, all alumni, and lovers of the university of Nigeria, to as a matter of urgency weigh in before the integrity of our dear University is trampled upon by those whose duty it is to protect it.
Sct. Darlington Ugwuegbe
Aspirant for Convocation Representative
UNN Convocation election 2024
NB: I have attached below a screenshot of the two circulars.
