Leaders of Any Association, Club, Society Must Come Through Election_SU CTC Chairman

By Isiaq Ibrahim 

The Chairman of the Caretaker Committee (CTC) for Students’ Union, Muhammad Shamsudeen Umar has said that leaders of every registered associations, clubs and societies in Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto must come through election.

This is coming after the SU Electoral Committee(ELCOM) on Monday, 22nd May
released guidelines governing the conduct of elections.

The ELCOM stated that any registered association, society or club that failed to comply with the directive would be banned until further notice.

“Dissolution of former EXCOS from 22nd to 23rd May, 2023, sales of nomination forms from 23rd to 30th May, 2023; screening of contestants from 31st May to 2nd June, 2023, election of eligible candidates on 3 June, 2023 and swearing New EXCOS on 5th June, 2023,” the statement reads in part.

Meanwhile, while speaking with the NEWS DIGEST PRESS on Tuesday, the SU CTC Chairman, Mohammed Shamshudeen Umar noted that any registered association, society or club operating on the campus must select their leaders through the election process in accordance with the stipulated guidelines by the Elcom.

He said the leadership is open to all eligible students to contest irrespective of whether a candidate is a particular member of an association/club/society or not.

The chairman said the SU is concerned with the leadership structure and not membership.

For example, even if a student is not a member of the National Association of Campus Journalists(NACJ) or Zero Tolerance to Corruption(ZTC), such a student can still contest for the position of president or any open post of the associations.

“Every association must have a leadership structure, and that leadership structure cannot be restricted to particular students alone. It must be open to everybody on the campus,”he said.

“This election will serve as a privilege and opportunities to all students and promote students intellectually, socially, culturally and supportive of their activities.”

“If at least the association in this varsity is meant for students, it will create an opportunity for everyone to show their talent, as part of the objectives of being a student during the electoral process. As the constitution provided, this election is to promote social, intellectual, and sporting activities of the students.”

The Chairman said that those associations and unions who already appointed or
elected their executives without recourse to
deanery to lift the ban for the election, their executives are dissolved.

“Regarding those associations that held elections in the last academic session, their election is not valid. Because you cannot hold an election without the permission of the deanery, the deanery will collect association contestants names and deliberate on it.”

“As far as the university is concerned, all those leaders that have been elected or selected are dissolved.”

“With this election, we give wider opportunities for students. However, students can come and voice for their elected members, but if students fail to show up, no problem, we are not forcing anyone and we are not bringing candidates to impose candidates.”

Rotaract Club Reacts

In reaction, one of the clubs in Usmanu Danfodiyo University Sokoto, Rotaract club, responded to the circular directives given by SU ELCOM for the election process

According to the statement released on 23rd May 2023 and signed by Rotaract President, Ahmad Muhammad, the club said it cannot comply with the directives.

“It is insulting to our organization that the CTC feels non-members who do not know our principles or laws or even understand the meaning of organization can take charge of a task as serious as determining our leadership. Therefore, it is with great hope that you now understand the reasons behind our initial disbelief upon receiving your memo. We have always maintained a strong and amicable relationship with the Students’ Union over the years, and our track record with the school administration speaks for itself. The jurisdiction of the Students’ Union and its ELCOM does not extend to our affairs,” the statement reads in part.

“Furthermore, I would like to emphasize that Rotary International places paramount importance on its branding, and only authorized members of the organization are permitted to use its name, emblem, and logo on any printed publication. We hereby strongly advise that the CTC desist from making any publications; online or in print carrying the Club’s name, logo or emblem. Any such act can be met with proper action from the club and Rotary International. I need not elaborate on the serious consequences such an act could entail.”