RSUST : STUDENTS ENDORSES E-VOTING

Students Leaders at the Rivers State University of Science and Technology, Port Harcourt yesterday unanimously endorsed the newly introduced E-voting by the school management. In a meeting yesterday attended by the Executive Council of the Students Union Government, The National Union of Rivers State Students, Faculty/Department Presidents, and all other students’ related bodies.
In the University, the Students agreed that, the E-voting process will enable every students to have a say on who leads them represent them in any capacity.

They therefore said, it was a welcome development, but pleaded with the Management to ensure a transparency in the Process. On his part, Dean of Students Affairs allayed the fears of Students on the issue of Management hijacking the electioneering process. According to him, the Management decided to properly consult the Students community through their leader before going ahead with the proposed E-voting, nothing that, the Vice Chancellor and the entire school management wants the best for the Students.

Dr. ZEB-OBIPI further, stated, that if proposed E- voting when fully implemented will be the first in the country for a university election, and RSUST being the foremost E-varsity in the country would be proud for it. This university have always set the pace for others to follow and we are very sure, other schools within the country shall emulate us in no distant time, he added.

All speaking at the event, a representative of CINFORES, the ICT organization which manages the university ICT Centre, as well a representative of the E-processing Agents in their separate speeches expressed their readiness to partner with the university to effect E-voting process and ensure its transparency.

After much deliberations and review of the petitions submitted by various groups sequel to the proposed e-voting at the meeting held earlier today, there was a need for decisions to be taken.

The meeting could not continue as the stakeholders, Faculty presidents and some aspirants were agitating for delegate election.

When the incessant resistance to the progress of the meeting became worse, the superior power had to come into play where they were asked to remain silent as they cannot decide the fate other students.

Those who supported e-Voting were asked to be at the RHS (Right Hand Side) while those that supported delegate election were asked to be at the LHS (Left Hand Side).

e-voting=52
delegating voting=11

Also speaking was the president of science faculty, Cmr. Wisdom said it was a good thing that the School management gave them the opportunity to express how they felt about the issue. I have never been given the time to express my opinion since i came to this university, he added.