By Ikenna Nwokedi 

Chukwuemeka Victor Amete has been elected as the Chief Judge of the Students' Judicial Council (SJC) while Paul James Ejieke was returned elected as the Senate President of the Students' Senate Council (SSC) as part of the Students Union Government (SUG) elections for the 2023/24 academic session held at the Faculty of Engineering TETFUND Building on Thursday, 29th August 2024.

The election which was monitored by the Sub-Dean of Students' Affairs Department, Dr. Chibueze Onwuzuligbo and UNECO members led by their Secretary, Barrister Chidinma Iweama saw a new Chief Judge emerging from the electoral process as Amete of Faculty of Law polled a total of 7 votes to see off the contest from Augustina Chiamaka Pax also of the Law Faculty who polled a total of 5 votes for the SJC Polls.

In the keenly contested SSC Elections, Paul James Ejieke of the Department of Civil Engineering polled a total of 26 votes to defeat Kingsley Ifechukwu Nwabueze also of Civil Engineering Department who polled a total of 13 votes and Jonathan Nelson Kosisochukwu of Applied Geophysics Department who polled a total of 8 votes.

Princess Nwamaka Nchekwube from the Department of Political Science was elected as the Deputy Senate President polling a total of 27 votes to defeat Chinasa Jane Ogbodo from the Department of Educational Foundation with 20 votes. Chihurumnanya Victor Benson from Modern European Language Department was elected unopposed as the Chief Whip as Chiamaka Walters from Department of Crop Science was elected as the Chief Clerk with Obiora Amarachukwu of the Department of Botany and Amarachi Comfort Umeh of the Department of Science Education elected as Deputy Chief Clerk and Deputy Chief Whip respectively.

In his address after the electoral process, the Dean of Student Affairs Department, Professor Makodi Biereenu-Nnabugwu congratulated the winners of the SJC and SSC Elections. The Dean affirmed that the election that brought the new elected officers was based on the electoral laws while admonishing the three arms of the 31st SUG to work in tandem for the general well being of the students. Prof. Biereenu-Nnabugwu disclosed that an opinion box will be made available as designated points for elected officers of the SUG as well as the students to air their views without necessarily visiting the Student Affairs' Unit.

Re-echoing the views of Prof. Biereenu-Nnabugwu, the Sub-Dean of the Student Affairs' Department, Dr. Chibueze Onwuzuligbo admonished the 31st SUG house to perform better than their predecessors. Dr. Onwuzuligbo urged the elected members to apply servant leadership in the discharge of the duties of their respective offices. The Sub-Dean informed that alot is expected of them as they should always comport themselves with dignity in both actions and utterances even as he advised them to work on their dress sense and code.

Responding, the newly elected SUG President, Comrade Samuel Messiah Eze promised that all arms of SUG made up of the Executives, SJC and SSC will work together for the entire student body. He promised that under his watch his administration will adopt Student First policy in all their deliberations and actions towards having a successful tenure.

Others who spoke during the event were the outgoing leaders of the 30th SUG House led by the SUG President, Comrade Onyinye Nwachukwu; Senate President, Precious Ozoelem and Chief Judge, Hon. Justice Prosper Ukpabi.

Highpoints of the occasion was the official handover, swearing in and decoration of the newly elected Chief Judge, Hon. Justice Chukwuemeka Amete by the outgoing Chief Judge, Hon. Justice Prosper Ukpabi as well as Oath of Allegiance administered by the new Chef Judge on the newly elected SUG Executives, SJC members, SSC officers and representatives.