Senators representing various institutions across Lagos State have raised strong concerns over what they described as a “deeply flawed and manipulated process” during the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) Joint Campus Committee (JCC) Lagos Axis convention held on Saturday, March 28, 2026, at the Federal College of Education (Technical), Akoka.
In a detailed account of events, the senators alleged that the election, which was expected to produce a new JCC chairman, was marred by irregularities, procedural violations, and what they termed a “desperate attempt to subvert the will of the majority.”
According to the lawmakers, the convention initially followed laid-down procedures, beginning with the election of a convention chairman who would oversee the electoral process.
“The process started on a structured note. A convention chairman emerged through voting, and there was a level of consensus among aspirants, with some stepping down and aligning to ensure a smooth exercise,” the senators stated.
Below is the moment Comrade Odewunmi Quadri was declared winner.
They explained that following these alignments, support consolidated around Comrade Odewunmi Quadri, giving him what they described as a “clear numerical advantage” ahead of the final vote.
‘We Monitored Every Vote — There Was No Tie’
The senators emphasized their direct involvement in safeguarding the integrity of the ballot.
“As elected representatives, we took responsibility to monitor the voting process. All ten votes were cast under our supervision, and we ensured accountability before the results were submitted,” they said.
They dismissed claims of a tie as “false and manufactured.”
“At no point was the election a tie. The votes clearly produced a winner. What was later announced did not reflect the reality of what transpired,” they insisted.
‘Transparency Was Resisted’
The senators accused the convention leadership of avoiding transparency at critical moments.
“When concerns were raised, we demanded that the sorting and counting of votes be done openly in our presence. Instead, there was resistance and unnecessary disruption of the process,” they noted.
They further alleged that rather than addressing the concerns, the convention chairman introduced confusion into the process.
‘From Clear Outcome to Alleged Manipulation’
In what they described as a “shocking twist,” the senators claimed the convention chairman altered the outcome after receiving the votes.
“After collecting the ballots, he withdrew momentarily and returned with a declaration of a 5-5 tie. This was completely inconsistent with the votes we had monitored. It was a clear case of manipulation,” they alleged.
The senators said they immediately rejected the declaration and called for corrective measures.
Security Presence and Call for Re-Vote
They confirmed that security personnel, including police officers and officials of the Department of State Services (DSS), were present and witnessed the unfolding situation.
“Even security operatives acknowledged the irregularities and supported the call for a transparent re-vote to restore credibility,” the senators said.
A fresh voting process was subsequently conducted under closer observation.
‘Declaration Against the Will of the Majority’
Despite the re-vote, the senators accused the convention chairman of acting unilaterally.
“In a move that undermined the process, he went ahead to declare his preferred candidate as winner, contrary to the outcome observed. He then exited the venue, leaving behind confusion and outrage,” they stated.
‘We Stood Firm to Defend Democracy’
The senators maintained that they ultimately upheld the mandate given by the electorate.
“As custodians of the process, we refused to allow the will of the students to be overturned. Six out of the ten senators stood firmly to affirm the rightful winner based on a simple majority, as clearly provided for in the constitution,” they declared.
They consequently recognized Comrade Odewunmi Quadri as the duly elected JCC chairman.
“That mandate was earned through a legitimate process and defended through collective resolve. We will not allow constitutional provisions to be misused to justify manipulation,” they added.
‘A Dangerous Precedent’
Expressing concern over the broader implications, the senators warned that such incidents could erode trust in student leadership.
“What happened is not just about one election. It is about the integrity of student unionism. If this is allowed to stand, it sets a dangerous precedent for future conventions,” they cautioned.
Convention Outcome Remains Contentious
Following the controversy, the senators said they addressed students and stakeholders at the venue to clarify the situation.
“We made it clear to everyone present what transpired inside the hall. While some attempted to declare the process inconclusive, the facts remain — a legitimate mandate was given and we stood to defend it,” they concluded.
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