The management of Abia State University has expressed concern over what it described as a sponsored protest by some Engineering students following the disqualification of a presidential aspirant in the forthcoming Students Union Government election.
The controversy reportedly stemmed from claims that the SUG election became inconclusive after the Engineering Faculty candidate for the presidency was disqualified on the grounds that he is not from Abia State. However, in a press release signed by the institution’s Public Relations Officer, Chijioke Nwogu, the university clarified that the student, Nicholas Emmanuel Chimaobi, was disqualified by the Students Union Government Electoral Commission on security grounds.
According to the statement, rather than utilising established internal mechanisms for redress, the disqualified aspirant allegedly mobilised students from his faculty and neighbouring institutions to protest, disrupting the peaceful academic atmosphere of the university.
In response to the development, the Vice Chancellor, Ndukwe J. Okeudo, directed that the 2025 2026 SUG election be postponed indefinitely to safeguard lives and property and maintain law and order on campus. A new date for the election will be announced later, and fresh aspirants for all offices will be allowed to apply.
Management also announced the dissolution of the Students Electoral Committee, stating that a new committee would be constituted. The current SUG Executive Council will remain in office until a new leadership is elected.
The university further ordered an investigation into the alleged security concerns surrounding the disqualification and the events that followed. While acknowledging students’ rights to lawful expression of grievances, management condemned actions capable of disrupting academic activities and warned against further unrest.
Students were urged to remain calm, law abiding, and focused on their academic pursuits.
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