By: Femi-Adeniyi Joshua, Ambali Olayinka
“Elections belong to the people. If the people turn their backs to a fire they will burn their behinds, and they will just have to sit on their blisters.” – Abraham Lincoln, 16th American President
Second semester is underway. Student campaigns are in steady swing, with flyers, stickers, and posters indiscriminately plastered all over the campus. Aspiring students have started subtle campaigns, promising heaven and earth. As elections approach, it is crucial the generality of the student community look beyond the face of each candidate, as well as set aside personal affiliations with fellow hall residents and those who may share similar backgrounds.
Students must prioritize Abraham Lincoln’s words. “I don’t deny the possibility that the people may err in an election. But if they do, the true cure is in the next election, and not in the treachery of the person elected“. With these words in mind, it should be remembered that electing good leaders is a collective responsibility. Elections should not be about supporting friends, faculty members, or department colleagues. It instead should be about choosing the most suitable representative who embodies the vision and values to represent everyone effectively – and not individuals who are lost in the whirlwind of pecuniary gains of leadership.
The University of Ibadan is celebrated not only for academic excellence but also for its tradition of vibrant student activism and leadership. The current approach to electing student leaders is steeped in hall loyalties; candidates frequently rise or fall on the basis of their hall affiliations rather than their individual qualifications. This hall-centered system has limited the potential for genuine and committed leaders to emerge. In a time when demands on student leaders are more complex than ever, rethinking how these leaders are chosen is essential to creating a an effective Students’ Union.
At present, hall-based voting pattern influences most student elections at the University of Ibadan. The focus on hall identity in voting decisions has significant drawbacks. Due to the fact that students from halls with lesser population or without strong hall ties often struggle to gain traction even if they may be better suited for leadership. The leadership position often goes to those with the strongest hall support, not necessarily those with the required experience or skills.
This must be remedied. By emphasizing public debates and policy-driven campaigns for example, students can engage directly with candidates’ plans, ideas, and values. This approach would spotlight each candidate’s vision and leadership potential, allowing students to assess candidates on relevant issues rather than hall loyalty. Debates focused on real issues encourage informed voting and reveal who has a clear and actionable vision.
A more rigorous, merit based nomination process would set a standard for prospective candidates, evaluating them on experience, academic performance, community involvement, and demonstrated leadership skills. Such a system would filter candidates based on competencies aligned with the responsibilities they would undertake, rather than solely on popularity or hall affiliation.
Encouraging candidates to partner across hall lines would promote unity, broadening their appeal to students outside their immediate networks. Cross-hall collaborations can shift the focus away from hall-based allegiances, fostering a campus culture where student leaders see themselves as representatives of the entire student body, not just their hall.
Educating students on the election process and the importance of voting based on values and competence would reshape the campus voting culture. Voter education efforts — such as informational sessions, workshops, and candidate profiles-would make the election process more transparent and allow students to make informed choices.
As students increasingly vote based on competency and policy, the student body can elect leaders that more effectively serve the interests of all students. The student body of the University of Ibadan has an opportunity to redefine student leadership in a way that transcends hall borders. By focusing on competence and collaboration over hall allegiance, the university can shape itself into a student union that truly serves the collective interests of the entire student body.
