UNICAL SUG ELECTIONS: 5 DAYS AFTER SUG ELECTIONS, OFFICIAL RESULTS YET UNANNOUNCED.

Reports from the University of Calabar, have it that the April 24th Students' Union Government Elections which was by electronic voting and marred by irregularities and allegedly was attacked by hackers is yet to be declared inconclusive or an official result given.

The Students' Union Government Constitution which provides that the Election results is to be announced immediately after the elections.

Observers and some members of the Calabar University Electoral Commission(CUECO) have been approached by news men and all claim that official results are yet to be announced; stating that the commission is yet to officially react to the events of the said date, because the Vice Chancellor and the Chairman of CUECO travelled out for an official function on Thursday.

News men who have been around campus interviewed certain students and a mixed reaction is palpable. Some students are quite happy with the rumoured outcome of the elections, stating that at least their candidates won, should such results stand. Other Students express disappointment with the system stating that a lot more was expected in a federal institution even at this level of cyber awareness and knowledge of due process, on why management will sleep on the matter for this long as clearly thousands of students are left disenfranchised over mistakes and errors that should be the sole responsibility of the those in charge of the voting.

A Student who pleaded for anonymity stated that " it is very sad that this is happening here, in a simple, students election. We know that recently management has tried to distance themselves from having interest in SUG elections as such should remain now."

Another student also said " this would not be the first time elections are being cancelled in good faith some time in 2014, elections were cancelled and then replaced with electronic voting".

We spoke with some candidates of the elections, many stated that should the results stand they would take it in good faith and stand by the elected officials, but that they also have to rally round the stand by the will of the people as demonstrated by several petitions that have been submitted to various offices, and are yet to receive a response.

The elections have triggered social media wars by different Students, a situation that speaks ill of the much spoken about public image the present Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Zana Akpagu has focused on building. Many have posted several screenshots of their Personal Voters code (PVCs) being delivered days after the elections in an attempt to mock the electoral commission.

Some students have said no elections held in the university and have called the elections a mere selection which is a mockery of common sense and the intellect of thousand in a learning environment.

Reports have also emerged on social media that certain persons have given victory speeches, and some videos appreciating students for their supports, others have paraded themselves on campus made announcements and even drive the official vehicle belonging to the President. Which plays out as a continuum to the drama displayed by the SUG President, AFUFU ANTHONY at the medical hostel where he reportedly forced himself in to announced the victory of the Enyam Kelvin a Presidential candidate for an election which results have not been officially announced.

A public petition is being circulated on social media and a copy has been obtained, calling for the "immediate nullification of the April 24th election".

Many have said the silence of the Management may be an attempt to tactfully and cunningly subvert the will of the general public and hurriedly inaugurate candidates of an inconclusive elections. As some students said the Security outfit of the University has embarked on a display if intimidation of students by calling students and sending text messages to threaten students about a suspected attempt to cause breakdown of Peace, law and order. Some said some agents of management have alleged that certain students have decided to fight the University Management.

This begs the following questions;
Who is to be held responsible for the inconclusive elections of April 24th? Who is the bear the responsibilities of the elections? Is this a calculated attempt by certain persons to subvert and short change the will of thousands of Nigerian students even at this present day and age in an institution of higher learning? Is the silence of management a calculated attempt at making a move at inauguration when relative calm is perceived? Is the actions of some few who have paraded themselves on campus, in official capacities as incoming elects and using official union properties suggestive of a
conspiracy and amounts to an abuse of the law?
These are many more are questions left on the lips of many students.

More reports would be provided as things unfold.

PETITION DEMANDING THE IMMEDIATE NULLIFICATION OF THE APRIL, 24TH UNIVERSITY OF CALABAR STUDENTS' UNION GOVERNMENT ELECTIONS.

The Calabar University Electoral Commission duly inaugurated on, was saddled with the responsibility of conducting free, fair and credible elections of union officials, simple enough for the average student to participate in accordance with Section (52) of the SUG constitution;though the MODE is yet to be amended to allow for the present day realities as section (51) contradicts the present practice.
Section 51:
MODE
1. "Election shall be by secret ballot based on the democratic principle of one man, one
vote."

It is in good faith that the drafts man of the constitution allowed for petitions to be written to seek redress to issues bothering on the elections.

We understand that it is common place to find controversy or dispute, following an electoral process, hence the law provides avenues for an effective resolution.

The Students Union Government Constitution makes provisions for redress of electoral malpractice as contained in section (53): ELECTORAL MALPRACTICES
1. "Only the students who are directly affected by an election malpractice have a right
to petition the Electoral Petition Committee but any other person can give evidence."

At this juncture we establish the petitioners in this petition thereof seeking election nullification therefore;
A. Students who did not receive PVC (Personal Voters Code) even after being named in the voters register.
B. Students who received Pins after the elections.

C. Students who receives pins but were unable to vote due to voting challenges.

From the foregoing it is safe to conclude that this action is necessary as an aftermath to the
events that occurred on 24th, April 2018 which have greatly flawed the entire electoral process which is more than an event.

We put forward the following facts.
1. That the Electoral process is set out and prescribed by the guidelines of the Calabar University Electoral Commission(CUECO).

2. That these guidelines were circulated around the school premises and social media.

3. That the electoral process begins from the picking of forms for any position as an indication of interest, to the inauguration of successful candidates in a free, fair and credible poll that reflects the authentic will of the people provided the results are not challenged by a petition.

4. That the Guidelines provides that;

A. CUECO will create a voters register contains only students that have paid fees.

B. That PVC(personal voters code) will be distributed on the early hours of the election day, nevertheless prior to the elections.

C. That the elections shall run uninterrupted for four hours (10:00am -2:00pm); which was extended to 2:30pm by the Chairman of the electoral commission on the day of Manifesto April 23rd, 2018.

D. That after the elections and final result determination, results would be signed by relevant parties and each party served a copy; results would be announced and published immediately [as provided by section 51(: All election results must be announced immediately after counting].

From the aforementioned provisions of the law and guidelines there was more than a singular breach of the electoral process, that renders whatsoever results of such a process short of the will of Nigerian students.

We therefore demand the relevant body, CUECO to nullify the elections even as it has made the election results unavailable for the past one hundred and twenty (120)hours.

The demands are made on the following grounds:

1. That students duly cleared to receive pins did not receive same, as some received theirs 24-48 hours after the election window.

2. That the election which was to run for four (4)hours, barely lasted 2 hours; thereby disenfranchising thousands of Nigerian Students in the process, and many more with the difficulties of voting.

3. That there were reports of electronic compromise and infidelity as some reports have said the website 'unicalevotes.com' was hacked. This in itself is sufficient enough for a honest nullification process.

4. That the CUECO has failed to release, announce and publish results of the election for more than one hundred and twenty (120) hours and hence raises a huge question mark on the credibility of such results.

5. That privy to insider information the results of the election represent less than 6% of eligible voters and 2% of the students community. A testament that many students were left disenfranchised by the election process.

We therefore demand that the CUECO, publishes an official statement to Nigerian Students taking responsibility for not being able to deliver on a smooth, uncompromised, credible Electoral process.

We demand this action to be swift and timely, as reports have it that certain persons are illegally parading themselves on campus as 'elects' and 'victors' at the polls; held meetings, made publications, issued announcements and being in custody of official union properties without an official handover. This is a transgression of the natural process of the law, a manipulative attempt that aims at thwarting due process.

We make this appeal in order to save the University from public ridicule and embarrassment as against the fine image the Vice Chancellor has labored to build; prevent the precipitation of a crisis situation on campus; restore confidence in the electoral system and management in the hearts of the electorate; deliver justice and an enabling condition for the will of Nigerian students to be exercised.

This also serves as a 'Litmus test' to the Vice Chancellor 'Students centred administration' as there has been relative silence from the Vice Chancellor on this matter.

Nigerian students still believe in the credibility of the system, and hope that in the coming week the right thing would be done.

Link to the online public petition is provided below:
https:///yg79i2