By Aliyu Baba Mohammed And Jonathan Abhulimen
As NASSS went to the polls yesterday, the electorates have called on the winners to fulfill their campaign promises to the electorates in the entire faculty.
According to them, coming out to vote was their part of bargaining which they have fulfilled, however, the promises made to them by the aspirants is an expectation they are looking up to their fulfilment.
One of the electorates who spoke to ABU Campus Press , Lawal Opeyemi from Mass Communication Department said the election was quite free and fair and well coordinated as every electorate was able to vote for the candidates of their choice.
"It's quite free and fair seeing the students coming out to choose the candidates of their choice, it's actually interesting."
Opeyemi called on the winners to live up to the expectations of the electorates by carrying all the departments along as the language is generally that of the "Students of Social Sciences" and not that of any particular department in the faculty.
On his part, Alkasim Isah Adamu of International Studies Department said despite that it was his first time voting in the school, he judged the whole arrangement and processes to be transparent devoid of biases.
Adamu urged the contestants who will eventually emerged winners to live up to their words as anything less than promise fulfilment will be equivalent to betrayal of trust of the electorates. He advised them to set aside anything that could cause division in the faculty.
"They should fulfill their promises as many of us made sacrifices coming here to vote. I don't have any lecture today, despite the fact that I came out purposely to vote."
On the other hand, Aisha Abubakar of political science department said the election process was stressful, notwithstanding, the whole thing was interesting at the same time. However, he called on them to remain truthful to their manifestos and never to play with people's trust.
Another respondent, Abdullahi Muhammad Sanusi deemed the process peaceful, while he advised all contestants to understand that leadership is a call from God.
"The students are orderly to some extent and everything is moving smoothly. However I call on the contestants to put the interest of the faculty first."
Also, Karima Adeniyi of Mass Communication Department, Ayuba Samuel of political science department and many respondents called on all contestants that emerged winners to tap from the ideas of their opponents, run inclusive administration in order to move the faculty forward.
This year's NASSS election was keenly contested between the candidates from the four departments that constitute the faculty of social services.
According to CTC IELCOM officials, a total of 1,150 ballot papers were printed for the election into various offices in which only four was left unused. The accreditation of voters according to their respective departments are as follows: International Studies had 260 accredited voters, Sociology, 263, Political Science, 271 and Mass Communication with 349 voters. The total number of votes cast stood at 1,149 including the six (6) unaccredited voters.
The office of the president had Umar J. Umar from the political science department emerged winner with a total vote of 571, while his revival, Abdullahi Aliyu Ibrahim from the mass communication department polled a total of 560 votes.
In the same vein, Favour Ikhanoba won the seat of vice president (1), while Shekhinah Boyi was declared winner of vice president (2). Others are Precious Zamdayu who clinched the office of the secretary general, Abdulrahman Usman Fatika, assistant secretary general, Isiaq Habeeb, Director of Social with his assistant, Onabule Ademola, Tajudeen Faizat got treasurer, Muhammad Yasin, Financial Secretary (unopposed), Abubakar Auwal Muktar, Director of welfare, Mubarak Bolarinwa, public relations officer (1) with his assistant, Sanni Liasu among other contestants who were unopposed.
Declaring the results, the Caretaker Committee Chairman of the association, Comrade Nura Sani Magaji said the elections of all kinds are contested and results usually come in two forms, however, each has impactful lessons to take home.
He said the current CTC of the association has tried its possible best in conducting free, fair, credible and transparent election to set a good record for the future elections. He advised the contestants who could not make it to their respective offices to take it in good fate, while urging the winners to run an inclusive administration by taping from the good ideas or manifestos of the opponents. He added that the progress of NASSS is nonnegotiable, as such, the winners must do everything possible to eschew anything that will jeopardize the progress of the association and the interst of its members.
"We understand how this election was keenly contested, we did everything possible to conduct an acceptable electoral process and we ensure that we have a free and equal level playing ground for all the contestants. However, two people cannot just occupy one office even if they're qualified, hence, we allow the electorates to decide.
However, I want to tell those that cannot make it to the offices through ballots to remain truthful and committed to aims and objectives of the association. They are also qualified to be leaders of this noble association and that why we screened and cleared them. Therefore, they should not abandon their wonderful manifestos but rather share/relate with those that God called to lead so as to bring inclusiveness."
He used the medium to congratulate the winners, urging to keep to their electoral or campaign promises for the betterment of the faculty in particular and ABU in general.
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