By Gbayesola Samuel 

Fresh constitutional questions have emerged over the conferment of honorary membership of the University of Ibadan Students’ Representatives Council membership on Hon. Adedeji Odidiomo, the Oyo South Senatorial candidate of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM), following his pledge of ₦50 million towards facilitating UI Students’ Representative Council (SRC) Legislative Week.

A video obtained by IndyPress showed the Speaker of the UI SRC, Rt Hon. Oludele John in the company of some student leaders, including past UISU President Adewole Adeyinka (Mascot), the Students’ Union House Secretary, Tifase Oluwatimilehin, the Speaker of the Faculty of Education Students’ Association, Agboola Samuel, and others, during a visit to Odidiomo

It is worth noting that inscribed on the sash given to the Oyo South Senatorial candidate is “INDUCTING RT.HON ADEDEJI STANLEY OLAJIDE INTO THE 13TH ASSEMBLY.”

In a post recounting the visit, former Deputy Speaker of the University of Ibadan Students’ Representative Council and former House Secretary, Hon. Jesugbemi, wrote:

“Today, I had the privilege of joining the University of Ibadan Students’ Union Students’ Representative Council (SRC) on a visit to Hon. Adedeji Odidiomo, APM Oyo South Senatorial Candidate, where he pledged the sum of ₦50 million towards the Union’s Legislative Week, to be known as the ‘Odidiomo Students ‘Legislative Summit.’”

Today, I had the privilege of joining the University of Ibadan Students’ Union Students’ Representative Council (SRC) on a visit to Hon. Adedeji Odidiomo, APM Oyo South Senatorial Candidate, where he pledged the sum of ₦50 million towards the Union’s Legislative Week, to be… pic.twitter.com/s6VX9E1PEG

— Hon. Jesugbemi (@Hon_Jesugbemi) July 29, 2026

However, observations from the video obtained by IndyPress raise questions about whether the constitutional procedure for conferring honorary membership of the Students’ Union was followed.

While speaking during the visit, the Speaker, while attempting to adorn Odidiomo with a ceremonial sash, said:

“Inducting you into the University of Ibadan Students’ Union, tradition states that I have to put this…”

The statement also hold questions over the basis of the purported induction.

Although the Speaker referred to a “tradition,” no such procedure is expressly provided for in the University of Ibadan Students’ Union Constitution.

More importantly, the Constitution provides a specific process for conferring honorary membership of the Union.

Article III Rule 1(b) states:

“The Students’ Representative Council (SRC) may confer honorary membership on any person or persons by reason of their interest in students and academic matters, especially as relating to the Union and the University of Ibadan.”

While this provision empowers the SRC to confer honorary membership, it also prescribes the procedure through which such recognition can be granted.

The Constitution further provides:

“A person shall be conferred with an honorary membership of the Union through a motion to that effect, supported by not less than two-thirds of the membership of the SRC present and voting at a special meeting. Any person so conferred with honorary membership of the Union shall be awarded a certificate signed by the President of the Union and the Speaker of the SRC.”

The provision indicates that honorary membership cannot be conferred unilaterally but must first be approved through a motion passed by at least two-thirds of members present and voting at a special sitting of the Council.

According to information gathered by IndyPress, no legislative sitting was held before the visit at which such a motion could have been considered. IndyPress also found no evidence of any exemption to this constitutional requirement.

Similarly, Article XXIII Rule 4 of the Constitution requires that notice of Council meetings be circulated in advance.

It provides:

“It shall be the duty of the Speaker, acting through the Clerk of the Council, to summon meetings of the Council. Notice of all such meetings shall be circulated to all members, and such notices announcing the same shall be pasted conspicuously in the halls and notice boards, at least one week before the time of sitting.”

As of the time of filing this report, IndyPress could not independently verify that any such notice was issued before the visit.

The pictures obtained by IndyPress also showed individuals present wearing customized shirts branded “Odidiomo Students’ Summit.” This raised one more question on whether the event had been planned before the visit and whether the alleged conferment formed part of that plan.

When contacted by IndyPress, a member of the Students’ Representative Council, who spoke anonymously said the Council was unaware of any decision to confer honorary membership.

“No. For me, I still checked the group this morning. I am not aware of anything.”

Responding to Hon. Jesugbemi’s post announcing the ₦50 million pledge, the SRC member explained that seeking sponsorship for legislative activities is within the responsibilities of the appropriate committee.

“Seeking for sponsorship is the work of the sponsorship committee, and the Speaker being there is like when we are seeking sponsorship from politicians or other leaders, we usually go in groups. At times, some members of the committee may not even be present.

“It is not necessary that they announce every sponsorship visit to the whole Council, but what is necessary is the auditing of the sponsorship.”

On the reported ₦50 million pledge, he added:

“I have not received any firsthand information on the news that a sum of ₦50 million has been donated to the Council because I just saw it on Twitter.”

He acknowledged that the sponsorship was reportedly intended for the Legislative week but said he could not independently verify the details of the visit.

Speaking on the alleged conferment of honorary membership, the lawmaker noted that that could not be independently verified since there is official communication from the Council.

“So far there has not been an official release by the Speaker through the Council letterhead, you cannot conclude if he has done that. Until we have a credible source from the Speaker himself or individuals present at the visit.”

Efforts by IndyPress to obtain the Speaker’s response were unsuccessful as of the time of filing this report. A message sent to him had not been responded to.

Should the Speaker respond, this report will be updated accordingly.

For now, the circumstances surrounding the visit, the reported ₦50 million pledge, and the apparent conferment of honorary membership continue to raise questions about whether the constitutional procedure of the Students’ Union was followed and whether the ceremony reflected an official decision of the Students’ Representative Council.

Constitutional citation credit: Abdulrasheed Olokoto