Itabi Emerges OAU SU President As Students Elect New Union Leaders
- By Abdulfatah Robiu
Adelani David Oluwatodimu, popularly known as Itabi, from the Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Science has emerged the newly elected President of the Great Ife Students’ Union, Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife.
The election was held on Wednesday across all 14 faculties of the institution, with students turning out in large numbers to vote for their preferred candidates.
Itabi won the presidential seat with 4,036 votes, defeating Babatunde Akilapa Azeez (Akilapa) from the Department of Local Government Studies, Faculty of Administration, who polled 2,739 votes, and Babatunde Azeez Ayobami (Oba) from the Faculty of Agriculture, who got 1,752 votes.
In the Vice Presidential race, Falade Iyanuoluwa Aanuoluwapo (Iyanuoluwa) emerged victorious with 5,781 votes, defeating Rojugbokan Omotola (Omotola) who had 2,688 votes.
For the position of Secretary-General, Habeeb Oke Isa (Opeyemi) secured 5,409 votes, defeating Caleb Ayodimeji Taiwo (Janvi) who polled 2,961 votes.
The Assistant Secretary-General position went to Usman Yinka Okunola (Comrade Ola) with a landslide victory of 7,214 votes, ahead of Israel Ajibola (Admiral) who had 1,110 votes.
In the Financial Secretary category, Ogunleye Dare (Fact) clinched the post with 4,903 votes, defeating Abdullahi O. Abdulsalam (Abdol) who had 3,293 votes.
For Public Relations Officer, Oreoluwa Joseph Olowosile (Wa à là) was declared the winner with 4,190 votes, beating Nurudeen Imran (Longman) with 2,670 votes and Bashir Ayomide (Alafe) with 1,550 votes.
The Welfare Officer seat went to Musab Okunola Shuaib-Osunleke (Musab) with 5,488 votes, ahead of Adekola Afeez Oluwakorede (Cypher) who polled 2,905 votes.
In the contest for Director of Socials and Culture, Abubakare David Opeoluwa (Hado) secured 5,324 votes, defeating Okolo Uchechukwu Joan (Nayna) who had 3,097 votes.
Ayotomiwa G. Oginni (Tommy) won the Director of Sports position with 5,314 votes, defeating Adebayo Malik (Malik) who polled 1,750 votes, and Popoola Damilare (Oluwadamilare) with 1,296 votes.
The election was conducted under a tense atmosphere, with the Security Committee earlier issuing a strong warning against any attempts to undermine the process.
The committee, in a statement released ahead of the polls, sounded a note of caution to those allegedly planning to cause chaos, warning that security officers were on high alert to protect the sanctity of the election.
Despite the warning, OSUN DEFENDER gathered that the electoral process was marred by allegations of irregularities. Reports of unqualified individuals voting, cases of multiple voting, and incidents of physical altercations at certain polling units.
There were also claims of attempted ballot manipulation and voter intimidation in some faculties, raising serious concerns among students about the credibility of the election.
The campus atmosphere, which was charged with anticipation, was equally mixed with moments of unrest, as violence broke out among supporters of rival candidates in some polling centers.
Nevertheless, after hours of collation, the Electoral Commission proceeded to announce the winners, which signals the emergence of a new leadership is set to administer the affairs of the Union for the next academic session.
