THE first Students’ Union Government (SUG) election has been held at the Plateau State University (PLASU), Bokkos.
The university suspended operations in 2007 due to academic problems and returned in 2010.
Since its return, students affairs had been administered by a caretaker committee. When the management’s plan was unveiled for the election, the students were happy.
The management inaugurated Plateau University Students’ Electoral Commission, headed by Mr Tony Ngwen, the Students’ Affairs Officer.
Three days to the election, the commission held a manifesto night, where aspirants intimated their colleagues with their programmes. The manifesto day, which started at 12pm, was held outside the students’ centre last Friday.
Five candidates contested for president. Except the General Secretary, Welfare Secretary and Public Relations Officers (PRO), other offices had two to four contenders, a development which made the poll to be keenly contested.
Last Tuesday, the election was held beside the school clinic. The turnout was massive as students defied the rain to to elect their leaders. As the process was going on, supporters of some candidates violated the electoral regulation by canvassing for votes as voters moved in to exercise their franchise.
The Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Prof Daniel Dubi, described the process as transparent. He praised the students for conducting themselves peacefully during the process.
He said: “What I am seeing shows that the students are well-organised and in the right manner, the election is going on in a very peaceful and transparent manner. Whoever wins should be congratulated by the opponents.”
Students enthusiastically waited after casting their votes but the results were not released until 9:45pm. Declaring the results, Ngwen announced Maren Ishaku, 300-Level Sociology, as the winner of the presidential post, defeating the first runner up, Mitchell Ngukop, 300-Level Political Science, and three others.
Others elected included Daniel Nankin, Vice President, David Nabasu, General Secretary, Dayol Kirnan, Assistant General Secretary; John Na’anyil, Financial Secretary, Junior Akaso, Director of Socials, Raymond Longdiem, Director of Sport, David Mimiap, Welfare Secretary, and Nehemiah Damar, PRO. The only female candidate, Tongshakap Akila, emerged as Treasurer of the union.
Maren, who made history having been elected as the first SUG president of the university, said his administration would address the welfare of students and take the institution to a greater height.
He said: “All that we need to do is to work out all modalities to see how we can build a strong relationship between students and the management. Our aim is to attract donor agencies as well as corporate firms to develop the school.”
The union leaders will take over from the caretaker committee constituted in 2011 during the administration of former Vice-Chancellor Prof Nenfort Gomwalk.
