David Akinloluwa Oyekola, a General Secretary aspirant of the University of Ibadan Students’ Union (UI’SU), has outlined plans to fund secretariat equipment and develop an official Union website, while both general secretary aspirants have addressed questions about the President’s authority to issue correspondence on behalf of the Union.
Speaking during UI’SU Press Night’26, Oyekola said his campaign team had contacted three individuals regarding funding for secretariat equipment, adding that they had promised to respond after the election.
He also said the team planned to approach 30 alumni and persuade each to contribute at least ₦50,000 towards the initiative.
On the proposed official Students’ Union website, Oyekola explained that development would be carried out in phases. He disclosed that his team had met with a student in the Faculty of Computing who quoted ₦1.5 million for the project, an amount he considered affordable for the Union.
The press session also featured questions about the President’s authority to issue correspondence on behalf of the Union, following an incident involving a letter written on the Union’s letterhead during Odidiomo’s visit to the University.
Asked whether the President or the General Secretary bore responsibility for such correspondence, General Secretary aspirant Dheniyi said that although the General Secretary was constitutionally responsible for correspondence, the President also had the right to send letters single-handedly using the union’s letterhead.
“If elected, I will ensure that most letters have both our signatures,” he said.
Oyekola agreed with Dheniyi’s position. However, following further questioning by members of the press on whether the President’s constitutional duties permitted he/her sole issuance of Union correspondence without the General Secretary’s signature, both aspirants eventually answered in the negative.
This report is part of the Union of Campus Journalists, University of Ibadan (UCJ UI)’s Election Watchroom Initiative, which provides coverage of candidates and the electoral process of the University of Ibadan Students’ Union (UISU).
