A college’s feat with tech

For the first time, the Federal College of Education (FCE) in Eha-Amufu, Enugu State, held a hitch-free Students Union Government (SUG) election. It was made possible by e-voting. OLADELE OGE (NYSC Enugu) reports.

In response to controversies that usually trailed its Students’ Union Government (SUG) elections, the Federal College of Education (FCE) in Eha-Amufu, Enugu State, has adopted Electronic Voting System (EVS).

For the first time, the college conducted the union election through Information Communication Technology (ICT). The 35-year-old college adopted e-voting method to phase out the rancor-prone ballot system it used for many years to conduct the SUG elections.

The election started with accreditation of voters at 8:30am at the 750-capacity Multipurpose Lecture Theatre. Despite the early morning downpour that greeted the day, students defied the rain and trooped out in their numbers to exercise their franchise.

The voting ended at 2:30pm, after which ThankGod Obaraezi was declared president-elect. The 200-Level Biology and Integrated Science student defeated his closest rival, Jonathan Idenyi of the department of English with 430 votes against 358.

Others elected include Vice President, Chiamaka Eze; General Secretary, Theodora Clement; Treasurer; Loretta Eze; Sports Minister, Uchenna Ukwueze and Victor Onah, Transport Minister.

Announcing the results, Chairman, Electoral Committee and Dean, Students’ Affairs Unit, Mr Simon Onyishi, said the election was keenly contested, stressing that the use of e-voting method led to electoral breakthrough in the history of union elections in the college.

He noted that previous elections were riddled with irregularities, saying the acceptance of the outcome of the election showed the success of the e-voting. He praised the staff of the ICT unit, led by Mr Sam Onyeidu, for the hitch-free exercise.

ThankGod said he was overwhelmed by the support students gave him to emerge the union president. He described his victory as divine, saying: “If not for God, I don’t think I would have won the contest.” He hailed the college management for creating level playing field for all candidates that participated in the election.

He said the Provost, Prof Benjamin Mbah, had changed the course of the union history, noting that the school had achieved a milestone in maintaining excellence.

ThankGod pledged to  partner the authorities of the college, promising to carry every student along in running the union. He urged for students’ cooperation to enable the incoming executive achieve their programmes.

Onyeidu said the e-voting was adopted to eliminate rigging and unnecessary manipulations, stressing that the process had enhanced transparency, fairness, free and credible election. He added that the students easily adapted to the e-voting because of their experience in Computer-Based Test (CBT).

The provost said the e-voting was an innovation that showed the college’s digital technology proficiency. He said he was impressed by the “seamless process”, adding that the success was an indication of what students could achieve with modern technology.

Mbah said: “With the conduct of the SUG election via e-voting, I am convinced that the college has arrived in the digital world. What is left for the nation’s tertiary institutions to advance in ICT more than they have been, is for them to encourage students to apply it in all their academic activities as well as extra-curricular exercise, such as union election.”

The election was monitored by members of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), campus journalists, members of Joint Campus Committee (JCC) in Enugu axis, led by Chidi Ilogebe. Other JCC members include Director of Action and Mobilisation, David Nwachukwu, and Public Relations Officer, Victor Ezenagu.