Election Break Indecision Worries OAU Students

Students of Obafemi Awolowo University have continued to express worries over the reported election break indecision by the university authority on whether to allow students go on break so as to be able to exercise their franchise come February 14 and February 28 or remain on campus as academic activities continue.

Speculations have suggested lately that the school management is been careful in reaching a concrete decision on the matter so as not to disrupt academic calendar at the expense of students exercising their franchise.

Some students have however said that either election break is given or not, nothing can stop them from traveling down to their respective states of origin to vote for the person they want come those election days since they are Nigerians. A student who prefers to remain anonymous who does not believe in the preservation approach said "What is the school management trying to do? Protect which calendar? OAU has a problem overtime with adhering to stipulated calendar, election break or no election break, our school is just slow"

There is an unconfirmed report that the school management is planning to make every Thursday and Friday prior to those election weekends lecture-free for those who wish to travel to vote to do so. If this is the case, students will have to risk traveling during about 48 hours to the election and return some hours after the election to be able to meet up with academic activities for the new week, at least for those that stay outside Osun state. While these proposed lecture-free days may not be useful to Great Ife students who are from cities and towns in the Northern and Eastern parts of the nation, those who stay somewhere in Osun state may find it helpful.
Also considering the bulk of OAU students who will be officiating on those election periods as electoral officers, the non-giving of election break will be a big blow to their willingness to serve their fatherland. Some students who are neither Electorates nor Electoral Officers wish to go back home because of the fear of what may happen during and after the elections.

The general election is expected to commence on February 14 with the presidential and national assembly elections followed by the the governorship and state house of assembly elections come February 28. February 21 is a provision for Run-off presidential election in a possible case where there is no clear winner as the law provides.