The Kenneth Mellanby Hall Legislative Council, at its emergency sitting on Thursday, 30th January 2025, set aside the decision of the Mellanby Hall Independent Electoral Commission, which had disqualified Hon. Adeife, a candidate vying for the position of hall chairman. The Legislative Council’s verdict came after the commission petitioned Hon. Adeife to the council.
Hon. Adeife was disqualified on ten grounds, primarily concerning his lack of readiness and misconduct during the screening process. The electoral commission, in presenting its petition to the house, established that Hon. Adeife had failed to comply with the screening guidelines, one of which required candidates to submit a manifesto for scrutiny. Documentary evidence proved that Hon. Adeife had only presented his constitutional duties in his manifesto and disregarded further questions on how he intended to implement his plans.
In his defense, Hon. Adeife argued that presenting a manifesto plan should not be part of the commission’s screening guidelines. He cited Section 61 of the Kenneth Mellanby Hall Constitution, which outlines the requirements a candidate must meet to be eligible for election. He further challenged the electoral commission’s decision to disqualify him based on his failure to present a manifesto plan, calling it unconstitutional, null, and void.
After reviewing the commission’s petition and Hon. Adeife’s defense, the house criticized him for failing to seek the legislative council’s intervention earlier if he believed the commission’s guidelines were unconstitutional. Additionally, Hon. Adeife was found guilty of indiscipline due to his use of inappropriate words and misconduct toward the electoral commission.
Exercising its authority under Section 85 of the Mellanby Hall Constitution, the house fined Hon. Adeife the sum of ₦4,000 and ordered him to write a letter of apology to the electoral commission within 24 hours of the judgment. Finally, the legislative council overturned Hon. Adeife’s disqualification and declared him qualified.
• This piece is part of the special series of the Union of Campus Journalists under the Elections Watch Room Initiative
