A 300-level student of the Department of Mass Communication, University of Benin (UNIBEN), Oguniyi Oluwarotimi, has emerged the President-Elect of the Mass Communication Students Association (MASCA).
Oluwarotimi was declared winner of the departmental association’s presidential election by the electoral committee, having scored 186 votes to beat his opponent, Nwabor Goodluck, who got 77 votes out of a total of 267 votes. Four votes were declared invalid by the electoral committee.
The election, which held at the Ekehuan campus of the University of Benin on Saturday, 5 August 2023, commenced at exactly 12:59 PM and ended 2:30 PM. It saw students from various levels of the department, including part-timers, come out in their numbers to exercise their franchise.
In an exclusive interview with reporters from The Nigerian Observer, president-elect Oluwarotimi expressed his joy for being chosen and trusted by the students to pilot the affairs of MASCA to a new and ‘best era’. He also encouraged his opponent, whom he described as a great man, to work with him in order to achieve the best for the students.
Oluwarotimi, who campaigned with the slogan ‘MASCA PILOT’, had promised the students that if voted in as the president of the association, he would make sure to take the affairs of the students as his top priority. He had also promised to run an inclusive administration where all students would be carried along.
Furthermore, Oluwarotimi had said he would tighten the bond between the students and executive, adding that his administration would introduce ‘media tour’, an avenue that would give students the chance to have more practical knowledge of the Mass Communication.
Meanwhile, Junior Okun garnered a total of 200 votes to win his opponent, Agu Christopher, who scored 61 votes for the position of the Public Relations Officer 1.
Similarly, Mercy Sima scored a total of 123 votes to become the Financial Secretary-Elect against Osazuwa Faith who got 95 votes and Amadin Jennifer who also got 42 votes.
Earlier before the election, the chairman of the electoral committee, Abeke Testimony, had promised a free, fair and transparent process. She also told our reporters that elections would be held for the office of the President, Financial Secretary and Public Relations Officer 1 as the other positions were unopposed.
However, a student who spoke to The Nigerian Observer during the election voiced displeasure with the manner in which some students were being cajoled to vote for aspirants.
“I left home with who I wanted to vote for in mind, and coming here people were telling me who to vote for. I don’t think a fair game is being played here,” said the student who pleaded anonymity.
