In response to the violent assault on Barrister Olumide Akpata, the Labour Party’s candidate for the September 21, 2024, gubernatorial election in Edo State, the University of Benin (UNIBEN) has taken the decision to suspend its students’ union government indefinitely.
Reports indicate that Akpata was targeted by suspected political thugs at the university’s senior staff club on April 12, 2024. Allegedly, he had been invited by the club for an interactive session.
During the incident, it is said that the students’ union president led a group of students to disrupt the event. They purportedly demanded its cancellation, citing a lack of prior notification to the students’ union.
Accounts suggest that the students exhibited disorderly behaviour, resulting in the rough treatment of numerous staff members, including a member of the Academic Staff of the university (ASUU), who was reportedly subjected to severe assault and subsequently hospitalized.
Consequently, the university’s management initiated an investigation into the matter to ascertain the underlying causes. Following the conclusion of the investigation, the University Registrar, A.A. Bobola, issued a statement on Monday, April 29, 2024, announcing the indefinite suspension of the students’ union.
The statement reads: “After due consideration of the report by the Management, the Vice Chancellor has approved the suspension of the University’s Students Union.
“The suspension which is indefinite, takes immediate effect, that is, from today, Monday 29th April, 2024.
“Accordingly, all officers of the Students’ Union are to hand over all properties of the Union in their possession to the Dean, Students’ Affairs not later than 4.00 pm on Tuesday 30 April 2024.
“In the interim, a caretaker committee composed of representatives of faculties, schools and institutes has been approved to coordinate students’ activities during the period of suspension.
“The above directive of the Vice Chancellor is hereby communicated for the attention of the University community and compliance of the erstwhile union officers as appropriate.”
