After the spearmanship of the Caretaker Committee for the 2020/2021 academic session, Danfodites were once again offered the chance to choose another sailors of leadership for themselves.This time around, elected not selected.
Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto conducted her Students’ Union elections for the 2022/2023 academic on 8th June 2023.
The election set a pace for the students to choose leaders of their will.
However, the process came with a myriad of unusual waves different from the previous students’ union elections conducted in Danfodiyo varsity.
For instance, the 2018 SU elections staged a fierce showdown between Faruq Barade and A.A Funtua who vie for the presidential position.
But the 2023 elections have veered, leaving a whooping number of 11 offices unopposed including the president, which many expected to be a heavyweight lock-horn at the polls.
Instead, it was the position of the Welfare Director that stole the show and proved to be the toughest battle even right from the campaign stage.
After the elections, the results were all announced except that of the position of the Welfare Director _another testament pointing to the intriguing signal of the contest between Abdullahi Zakari Yari and Hammed Yusuf Akinteye popularly known as Broda Shagi.
All the newly elected Students’ Union Executives were inaugurated on 9th July. But up till now, the result of the Welfare Director is still flying on the air for want of inconclusiveness.
While speaking with the News Digest Press after the inauguration of the newly elected Students’ Union Executives, the Chairman of the Electoral Committee, Muhammad Bashir Achida said the reason was not connected with the conduct of the Thursday elections.
He said the inconclusiveness has nothing to do with electoral malpractice or any kind of election misconduct.
The Chairman however stated that the inconclusiveness is directly related to contestants of the office_ Abdullahi zakari Yari, Hammed Yusuf Akintoye and Muhammad Nafiu.
“The reason has nothing to do with election malpractice or misconduct. Rather, it is connected to the contestants of the post,” the Chairman said.
“Right now, the issue is at the hands of the University Security Unit and the school
management.”
“We are waiting for a report from the security and the management in order for us to resolve the matter.”
The office of the Welfare Director constitutes a vital bone in the skeleton of the Students’ Union executive.
The Welfare Director_in collaboration with the Students Affairs Division_is responsible for the upkeep of the Halls of residence,
lecture halls and their surroundings, according to the Students’ Handbook.
The office also makes recommendations on issues affecting the general welfare of the union members, regarding accommodation,
health care and transportation and ensure the well-being of Union members in police custody or during sickness.
Danfodites are still waiting with bated breath to know their Welfare Director for the 2022/2023 academic session, but it seems the waiting is getting equivalent to that of the coming back of Jesus of Christ.
The Students’ Union Electoral Committee was spectacular in handling the 2023 elections. Well done! But following the rain on the contest for the position of the Welfare Director, it appears that the committee needs to clear the dust before it spirals out of the settling box.
It has been over ten days since the election was declared inconclusive, but the electoral committee is yet to satisfy the curiosity of Danfodites as to who will steer their welfare affairs on campus.
We appeal to the SU Elcom to swiftly resolve the issue that is still hanging the result of the Welfare Director in the balance. We want to hear the result.
Shereefdeen Ahmad