Bayero University, Kano (BUK) Students’ Union Government (SUG) has elected new leaders through an online voting system, with Abdulmudallib Kalli Sharif, popularly known as Sir Kalli, emerging as the new SUG President.
Sir Kalli secured 4,153 votes to defeat his closest rival, Captain Sidi Nasir, who polled 2,808 votes in the keenly contested election held on Thursday.
Speaking shortly after the official announcement of the results, Sir Kalli thanked the students for their confidence in him and pledged to prioritise students’ welfare during his tenure.
“I want to thank all the students for believing in me and voting for me. I assure you that my administration will be responsive and committed to improving the overall wellbeing of students in the university,” he said.
He added, “I will ensure that students’ welfare remains my top priority, and I will work hard to deliver on all my campaign promises.”
In other results, Arafat Yakubu Onono emerged winner in the election, polling 3,871 votes to defeat Khadijat Mama Jibril, who garnered 3,400 votes.
For the position of Secretary-General, Hamisu Abdussamad recorded a landslide victory with 4,825 votes, defeating Haruna Sani Nura, who polled 2,208 votes.
A total of 8,577 votes were cast through the e-voting system, with the exercise widely described by stakeholders as peaceful, transparent and credible.
Earlier, the Dean of Students Affairs, Prof. Mukhtar Ridwan Bunza, had assured the university community of a peaceful and transparent electoral process.
“We are committed to ensuring that the electoral process is peaceful, transparent and credible,” Bunza said during the Presidential and Executive Debate held on Jan. 20.
He urged students to vote based on competence, integrity, capability, reliability and accountability.
Also speaking at the debate, the Director of the Centre for Democratic Studies, Mambayya House, Prof. Habu Mohammed, delivered a lecture on politics, elections and political apathy.
He called on aspirants to remain truthful and committed to implementing their campaign promises if elected, adding, “Candidates should avoid making unrealistic promises, because such practices have contributed to distrust in leadership.”
Earlier, the Chairman of the Bayero University Independent Electoral Commission, Anwar Usman Hassan, outlined the rules guiding the debate, which was conducted peacefully.
“The debate was conducted peacefully and all participants adhered to the guidelines,” Hassan said.
