"DECISION TO DISQUALIFY COMR. CASHLINK IS EVIDENCE-BASED, IRREVOCABLE" - SUGECO

By Olamide Lasisi 

The Students' Union Government Electoral Committee Officers (SUGECO) have officially communicated their decision regarding the disqualification of Kabiru Toheeb Toyosi, popularly known as Cashlink, from the SUG presidential race.

This decision was made known to the public in the late hours of January 7, after the news regarding the disqualification of the presidential candidate was spread among the OOU students community on Tuesday, January 7, 2025, through an official letter from the Electoral Committee Officers (ECO).

The ECO has justified its action for the disqualification, claiming the decision was made in line with the OOUSUG constitution.

The letter reads in part: "The ECO reaffirms that this decision was made in line with the OOUSUG constitution and electoral guidelines supported by evidence to ensure fairness, transparency, and integrity."

This decision, however, is attributed to a breach of the electoral guidelines and also to protect the integrity of the Committee in ensuring fairness and upholding the highest standards of discipline.

"The electoral guidelines (December 23, 2024) explicitly state that all campaign materials, including banners, must bear the signatures of the ECO Chairman, SPEDU, and CSO before public display. Evidence from our investigation shows that Comrade Cashlink displayed banners that lacked these mandatory approvals, constituting a clear violation.

"Allowing such breaches to go unaddressed would undermine the credibility of the electoral process and the authority of the ECO, compromising the principles of fairness and disenfranchising the student body," the letter read.

The SUGECO, however, reiterated that the decision to disqualify Comrade Cashlink is justified, evidence-based, final, and irrevocable.

"The ECO's decision to disqualify Comrade Cashlink is justified, evidence-based, final, and irrevocable. We remain committed to upholding the highest standards of discipline, accountability, and transparency. We urge OOUites to support this position as we work towards a credible electoral process."