By Rauf Mujeeb

The Concerned Students Movement (CSM) has condemned the continued delay in the commencement and conduct of the 2026 University of Ibadan Students’ Union electoral process.

This was contained in a press statement jointly signed by the CSM Coordinator, Feranmi Gabriel, and the Secretary, Emmanuel Omolaye, on Sunday, September 6, 2026.

Expressing concern over the delay, the group described the situation as alarming and an attack on the Students’ Union.

“The failure to officially and promptly commence the 2026 University of Ibadan Students’ Union (UI’SU) leadership transition process, despite the fact that the second semester is already more than eight weeks underway and nearing its end, is deeply alarming and should be a matter of concern to the entire university community,” the statement read.

The movement argued that the election should be conducted within a reasonable timeframe to allow students on campus to properly assess the aspirants, their ideas, and proposed programmes before making their choices.

It also criticised the existing arrangement under which the electoral process is coordinated by the Deputy Registrar and the Dean of Students, describing it as a factor that, in its view, could enable interference in the process.

“The oppressive arrangement that places the conduct of the UI’SU election process in the hands of the Deputy Registrar and the Dean of Students, rather than in the hands of students themselves, remains a major factor enabling the manipulation of the electoral process,” the group stated.

​Addressing alleged justifications for the postponement, the group dismissed the excuse linking the delay to the estimated ₦36 million Union Week.

“It must also be stated that the excuse that the election is expected to come after the N36 million estimated Union Week is unacceptable and fundamentally flawed. Students must reject all the implanted false excuses,” the statement read.

The group argued that conducting the election would not interfere with the day-to-day administration of the Union by the outgoing leadership.

CSM consequently called on the John Oludele-led Students’ Representative Council and the Adeboye Temidayo-led Executive Committee to immediately convene a general meeting of students.

It also urged affiliate press organisations under the Union of Campus Journalists (UCJ) to regard the delay as “a deliberate and unexplainable attack on the rights of students to freely choose, within a reasonable timeframe, representatives of their choice.”

Beyond the election timeline, the movement also criticised the campaign activities of aspirants seeking positions in the Union.

“In the same vein, we condemn the soulless and uninspiring campaign activities of aspirants in the race. We reject the practice of defacing the entire campus with campaign materials, an act that constitutes an environmental injustice, instead of engaging in issue-based campaigns that address the fundamental challenges confronting students,” it stated.

The statement also urged students to hold all candidates to high standards that reflect what it described as the “radical, progressive and democratic traditions of the University of Ibadan Students’ Union.”