The Federal Polytechnic, Ado Ekiti, has been shut on the orders of the authorities of the institution.
News Agency of Nigeria reports that the Students’ Union Government (SUG) has also been banned by management, with immediate effect.
SUG Accuses Management of Interference in students’ election
The actions followed the violent protest staged on Friday by students over alleged management meddling in affairs of the SUG. And alleged attempts to install its stooges as leaders of the students’ body during its election held on Thursday.
During the protest, the students had disrupted normal academic activities by blocking all gates leading to the institution for hours. The action thereby hindering human and vehicular movement.
Some valuable facilities in the institution’s School of Engineering were also destroyed.
The institution’s Director of Protocol, Information and Public Relations, Mr Adeyemi Adejolu, in a statement, denied the allegation.
In the issued statement in Ado Ekiti on Sunday, Adejolu denied the students’ claims that authorities were interfering with the union’s affairs.
Management denies interference allegation
Adejolu also described as needless and unwarranted the violent protest by the students. He said that their action was based on a mere rumour from unreliable sources.
”Management had nothing to gain from imposing candidates for students’ union election,” he said.
”The decision to shut the polytechnic was arrived at during an emergency joint meeting of the Academic Board and Management.
“Attention of management of Federal Polytechnic, Ado-Ekiti, has been drawn to insinuations of imposition of candidates in students’ union elections.
“It has never been in the tradition of the institution’s management to impose candidates during students’ union election
“Also for over two decades, students’ union electoral processes are run and conducted by the students themselves. Union’s election is always conducted through their accredited representatives called APECO.
“The management only engages in monitoring the process by ensuring that the rules set for they set for themselves are strictly adhered to, under a well-secured atmosphere,” he said.
Adejolu said management was, therefore, surprised at the last unprovoked protest and unverified allegation of the imposition of candidate.
“Management has consequently affirmed that all students resident on campus should promptly vacate their accommodation on a week compulsory break.
”Students will resume November 10 and second-semester examination will commence on Nov. 12.
Embargo has been placed on students’ union activities with immediate effect,” Adejolu said,
