Abuja, July 6, 2026 — The President of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Comrade Babatunde Akinteye (BABTEE), has cautioned managements of tertiary institutions against interfering in Students’ Union Government (SUG) elections, insisting that their role should be limited to providing advisory support and monitoring the electoral process.
In a statement on Monday, the NANS President expressed concern over what he described as increasing interference by some school authorities in student union elections across the country.
According to him, while school managements have legitimate responsibilities in ensuring peaceful and orderly elections, they should not influence the outcome or manipulate the process in favour of preferred candidates.
He argued that students do not interfere in the internal elections of academic and non-academic staff unions such as the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP), Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), and other staff bodies, stressing that the same principle of autonomy should apply to student union elections.
“The role of management should be advisory and supervisory, not one of direct interference. Students equally respect the independence of staff unions and do not meddle in their electoral processes,” he said.
BABTEE further alleged that there have been reports suggesting that some management teams collaborate with security operatives to generate adverse security reports against popular student leaders with the aim of disqualifying them from contesting elections.
He described the allegations as disturbing and capable of undermining confidence in campus democracy if allowed to persist.
The NANS President maintained that Students’ Union Government elections must remain free, fair, transparent, and credible, urging school authorities to uphold democratic principles and allow students to freely choose their leaders.
He stressed that respecting the will of students would strengthen campus governance, promote responsible leadership, and reduce unnecessary tension within tertiary institutions.
BABTEE called on the managements of universities, polytechnics, colleges of education, and other tertiary institutions to refrain from actions capable of compromising the integrity of SUG elections, emphasizing that the democratic choices of students must be respected at all times.
