The Director of the Aminu Kano Centre for Democratic Studies, Mambayya House, Professor Habu Muhammed, has called on students contesting for executive positions in the Bayero University Kano Students’ Union Government (BUK-SUG) to be sincere, uphold integrity, and faithfully implement their campaign promises if elected.
Professor Muhammed delivered the charge during a lecture titled “Politics, Elections and Political Apathy: A Critical Examination of the Students’ Union in Bayero University” at the Convocation Arena.
The lecture was part of the Presidential and Executive Debates organised by the BUK Independent Electoral Commission (BUKIECO).
Addressing the 31 aspirants vying for various SUG executive positions, Professor Muhammed emphasised the importance of honesty and integrity in leadership, cautioning against making unrealistic promises or projecting false images for political gain.
He noted that such practices erode public trust in leadership, especially within Nigeria’s political space, and urged student leaders to set a better example.
“Elections are meant to provide a credible, free, and fair process through which leaders emerge,” he said, adding that while Nigeria still faces challenges in this regard, Bayero University has made commendable progress.
This success, he explained, stems from the university’s tradition of active student engagement, driven by the Students’ Affairs Directorate working closely with the Students’ Union to ensure transparent and credible elections.
Professor Muhammed also expressed concern over political apathy among students, describing it as a major threat to democratic participation.
He warned that indifference to the electoral process weakens representation and accountability, urging students to actively participate in the BUK-SUG elections scheduled for Thursday, 22 January 2026.
In his remarks, the Dean of Student Affairs, Professor Mukhtar Ridwanu Bunza, encouraged students to carefully consider the manifestos of candidates and to vote based on merit rather than sentiments such as nepotism, tribalism, or personal affiliations.
He emphasised that competence, integrity, capability, reliability, and accountability should guide students’ choices at the polls.
Earlier, the Chairman of BUKIECO, Anwar Usman Hassan, outlined the rules guiding the presidential and executive debates and advised candidates, supporters, observers, and the audience to conduct themselves peacefully and responsibly throughout the exercise.
The debates provided an opportunity for candidates to present their manifestos, with most pledging to prioritise students’ welfare, transparency, and accountability if elected. Notable aspirants included presidential candidates Sidi Nasir Awwal, Abdulhakim Suleiman Hakimi, and AbdulMutallib Kalli Sheriff; vice-presidential candidates Arafat Yakub Onono and Khadija Mama Jibril; and secretary-general aspirants Abdulsamad Hamisu Aliyu (Fresher) and Haruna Nura (Danbatta), among others contesting for executive positions.