Elections: Poly Rector Denies Arrest Of Institution’s Students With PVCs In Osun

Management of the Federal Polytechnic, Ede, Osun state, has described as untrue and outright falsehood, the alleged arrest of students of the polytechnic with fake Permanent Voters’ Cards, PVCs, in the state.

The polytechnic, in a press release issued by the Public Relations Officer, PRO, of the polytechnic, Mr. Sola Lawal, and signed by the Rector, Dr. John Adekolawole, said it is not true that students of the polytechnic were arrested as being rumoured .

The statement warned politicians to desist from dragging students of the polytechnic into such dirty game, noting that the institution remains neutral, with extant law and regulation that insulate students against partisan politics .

“The attention of the management of the Federal Polytechnic, Ede, has been drawn to series of comments trending on social media as regards to the case of arrested fake voters at Alajue town in Ede South local government area.

“Much as the management of the institution believes in fundamental human right of an individual, both staff and students, in exercising their civic rights and to vote for any party of their choice, yet, it is pertinent to state that such a privilege would not be abused under any guise.

“All staff and students are hereby advised to maintain decorum and refrain from any act or utterances capable of heating up the polity or tarnishing the good reputation of the institution which she has built since its inception as a dynamic, disciplined and resourceful institution”.

The statement enjoined the polytechnic community not to engage in any form of clandestine activity with any politician, warning that the authority will not hesitate to discipline any erring officer or student found wanting.

The Rector appealed to all political parties and political gladiators to play the game according to the rules, warning them not to drag students of the polytechnic into politics.

Recalled that the candidate of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, for Ede North/ Ede South/ Egbedore/ Ejigbo Federal constituency, Mr Bamidele Salam, in a statement alleged that the students were caught with fake voters cards on the eve of the aborted Presidential and National Assembly election.

He alleged that 13 Students who were part of an advance team of over 200 students of the Federal Polytechnic Ede were induced by a serving member of the Osun State House of Assembly to use fake voters card in the Presidential and National Assembly election which was to hold on Saturday.

Salaam stated that the fake voters were purportedly lodged in the residence of one Mr Najeem Musa, who is a personal assistant to the member of House of Assembly, saying that the students had confessed that they were hired by the APC to use voters cards procured from Lagos state with a promise that each of them would be paid N5,000 at the end of the election.

But, a member of House of Assembly representing Ede South, Hon Adebisi Nurein, said there was nothing in the said statement that links him with the allegation and would not bother to react to it.

He challenged whoever has concrete evidence on his involvement to come out boldly and make a claim.