By Alumona Ukwueze

NSUKKA —Members of the convocation, and other  alumni of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, UNN, have called on the Pro-Chancellor of the University, General Ike Nwachukwu (rtd), to call the Acting Vice Chancellor of the University, Prof. Polycarp Chigbu, to order and save the University of looming crisis.

The convocation members, and alumni of the University alleged that Prof. Chigbu, unilaterally and illegally truncated and altered the procedures for the election of convocation representative in the Governing Council of the University without due recourse to the laws and standing orders of the convocation of the institution.

In a seven-paged petition endorsed by the members of the convocation and made available to Vanguard on Wednesday, the petitioners called on the Pro-Chancellor, to set aside the unilateral amendment of renewal of membership and voting procedures for the election of convocation representative as allegedly foisted on the university by the Acting Vice Chancellor.

They equally asked that the illegal publications of November 19 and 20, 2024 which contravene the standing orders of the convocation be withdrawn and declared null and void, and that the Acting Vice Chancellor should be advised to refrain from the alleged illegality and abuse of power currently enveloping the forthcoming convocation election.

The petitioners equally called on the Pro-Chancellor to ensure that the procedures for the election as contained in the publication of November 7, 2024 which is inline with the law and standing orders of the University should be allowed to subsist, urging anyone who wishes to amend the standing orders of the convocation to follow the guidelines as outlined in section 22 of the orders.

They equally called on the Pro-Chancellor and members of the Governing Council to call all dissident staff of the University involved in what they described as “the show of shame” to order and ensure that the extant laws and regulations of the University are followed at all times.

“Sir, we ground this petition on the powers conferred on the Council by the universities (Miscellaneous provisions) Act 2003, section 2, subsection 2AAA (1) for the good management, growth and development of the university and our belief in the Council’s and your ability to intervene and stop an ongoing impunity in the University.

“Sir, the University is about to be plunged into another round of crises by the unilateral and illegal truncation and alteration of the procedure for the election of the convocation representative in the University Governing Council without reference to the laws and standing order of the convocation. This action is completely unbecoming, amounts to brazing acts of impunity and abuse of power by the Ag. Vice Chancellor,” part of the petition read.

They further stated that the standing orders of the convocation election provided for voting through open secret ballot system which requires the physical accreditation of voters as against the online voting system being proposed by the Acting Vice Chancellor.

The convocation members also alleged that the proposed online voting would be prone to manipulation in favour of one Engr. Chukwuemeka Udoh, who they said had started parading himself as the Acting Vice Chancellor’s anointed one to occupy the office of convocation representative in the University’s Governing Council.

“Sir, it is a common knowledge in the University that the Engr. Chukwuemeka Udoh, was instrumental to the award of the contract for the processing of the online registration and voting to Arrow Fast Limited. Sir, it is obvious that the online system is a smokescreen and a facade designed to manipulate the election in order to achieve an ulterior motive of ensuring the victory of a preferred candidate while hiding under the guise of accommodating every voter,” part of the petition also read.

They equally said that the members welcome reform of the convocation procedures but it must be done within the ambit of the law.