THE WAY FORWARD FOR THE FBC STUDENTS’ UNION ELECTIONS

The Deputy Vice-Chancellor of Fourah Bay College, Professor Lawrence

Kamara had a successful engagement with all the aspirants for the

Students’ Union presidency at the DVC Committee Room, FBC on 26th May 2021.

The purpose of the meeting was to discuss the critical issues

confronting the Students’ Union elections set for 2nd June 2021.

Other stakeholders in the meeting were  top officers from Regent

Police Division, the Electoral Committee of FBC, the Deputy Registrar,

FBC and other members of the FBC Administration. In his opening

remarks, the DVC, FBC emphasized the need for a transparent and credible

electoral process in order to have an effective and productive

students’ leadership that can work with the administration to regain

the glory of FBC.  He therefore clarified certain issues including the

eligibility of a student to contest and to vote, the date for the elections, the

provision of the voters’ list, and the security arrangement to guarantee

peace and stability throughout the electoral process.

The LUC of the Regent Police Division admonished all aspirants to

ensure that their supporters behave in accordance with the  laws of Sierra Leone and

regulations to strengthen a peaceful atmosphere for them to have free,

fair and credible elections. The aspirants were given opportunity to

discuss those critical issues put forward by the DVC and the Deputy

Registrar. They unanimously resolved that:

1.      The Elections will be conducted on 2nd June 2021,

2.      All campaigns will be done either on social media or main stream media,

3.      No gathering is permitted on campus to campaign,

4.      The Presidential Debate should be on Radio and that will be

coordinated by the USL Media Director,

5.      The voters’ list will be ready and exhibited before the end of this week,

6.      NEC will assist to conduct elections in terms of providing ballot

boxes and supervisors on the Election Day,

7.      All polling stations will be at the Amphitheatre, FBC,

8.      Polling stations will be arranged according to Departments/ Divisions,

9.      Every aspirants will have two agents in every polling station,

10.     Elections will start at 9:00 am and end at 3:00 pm,

11.     The cut off time for Registration of students to participate in

the Elections is 20th May 2021,

12.     Every voter should have authentic or valid identification (

College ID Card, passport, voter card, driving license, NASSIT Card,

Library card etc),

13.     Any aspirant that would attempt to destabilize the electoral

process will be disqualified,

14.     Any student or group of students that may use violent or any other

form of disorderliness that can interrupt the electoral process will

be summoned to the Discipline Committee for investigation,

15.     Police will be around to ensure peaceful atmosphere from now unto

the elections.

The Elections Committee will print 2,500 ballot papers because the

expected number of registered students is around 2000.

The aspirants thanked the Administration for the constructive and

productive engagement and promised protecting the reputation of FBC

and the University throughout the electoral process.

Credit: Tonya Musa (Ph.D) USL Media Directorate