SUG: SDU Makes U-Turn, Orders Proper Election, Handover To Elected Union

The management of Southern Delta University (SDU) has made a fresh move in the lingering Students’ Union Government (SUG) crisis, directing that a proper election be conducted and that the outgoing executives hand over to the duly elected executive members.

The latest development represents a significant shift from the earlier directive by the university management ordering the dissolution of the 2025/2026 SUG and directing the outgoing executives to hand over the Union’s properties, documents, financial records and other assets to the Dean of Students’ Affairs.

The earlier directive had generated tension among students and student leaders, with the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Zone B, South-South, expressing opposition to the development and announcing plans to mobilise students for a protest over concerns surrounding the SUG transition and dissolution.

However, in a fresh development, the SUG President, H.E. Sen. Comr. Oribelu Precious, has disclosed that the Vice Chancellor, Professor Sunny Awhefeada, has directed that the Students’ Union should undergo a proper democratic transition, including the conduct of an election and handover to the duly elected executive members.

The SUG President made this known in an official statement dated August 8, 2026, following engagements between the SUG leadership, the university management and NANS Zone B.

According to him, the earlier memorandum from the Dean of Students’ Affairs stated that the tenure of the 2025/2026 Students’ Union Government had expired and directed the President and other principal officers to hand over Union properties, documents, financial records and other assets to the Dean.

He said the SUG leadership objected to the procedure, insisting that the appropriate democratic process was for the outgoing executives to hand over to duly elected executive members rather than hand over the Union to management when no election had been conducted.

The SUG President disclosed that he and his executives subsequently met with the Vice Chancellor, Professor Sunny Awhefeada, to present their concerns over the transition, election and handover process.

He said the Vice Chancellor listened to their concerns and advised them to meet with the Dean of Students’ Affairs, directing them to call him when they arrived at the Dean’s office so that he could personally communicate with the Dean on the matter.

The SUG President stressed that the Vice Chancellor did not, at that meeting, instruct the executives to hand over the Union to management.

He explained that the Dean was unavailable when they arrived at his office because he had travelled to Asaba, adding that they left around 5pm with the understanding that they would return the following morning.

According to him, online reports subsequently emerged alleging that the SUG had been banned, that the executives were facing suspension and that there were threats concerning their graduation.

He dismissed the reports as inaccurate, saying the SUG leadership had not received any such communication from the Vice Chancellor or the Dean at the time the reports were circulating.

The SUG President further disclosed that on Friday, August 7, 2026, members of NANS Zone B, led by its Coordinator, Comr. Victor Ogechukwu Anthony, visited as part of a fact-finding exercise.

He said the NANS delegation was welcomed and briefed on the developments, adding that he personally explained his positive assessment of the Vice Chancellor’s disposition towards students.

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Following the engagement, he said he contacted the Vice Chancellor, who was out of town, to brief him on the latest developments.

According to the SUG President, the Vice Chancellor reiterated that the appropriate process was for the Union to conduct the necessary election and subsequently hand over to the duly elected executive members.

The Vice Chancellor subsequently requested that the SUG executives and the Dean of Students’ Affairs be included in a conference call, during which he made his position clear.

The SUG President said the Vice Chancellor directed that there should be a proper transition and handover to the duly elected executive members, rather than a handover to the Dean of Students’ Affairs or any other management official as a substitute for an elected Union.

He also disclosed that the Vice Chancellor agreed that the SUG Constitution should be reviewed and that the Students’ Union Government should henceforth be properly represented on the Electoral Committee.

The development comes against the backdrop of the earlier NANS intervention and planned protest over the management’s initial position on the SUG transition.

NANS had moved to intervene in the matter after the management’s dissolution directive, with the students’ body raising concerns over the process and calling for proper engagement and a democratic transition.

No School Fee Increase — SUG President

The SUG President also used the statement to dismiss rumours of an increase in school fees at the university.

He stated that there had been no increase in school fees since Professor Awhefeada assumed office as Vice Chancellor, adding that there was no approved or announced fee increment.

He further said the Vice Chancellor had not expressed any intention to increase school fees at the present time or in the immediate future.

According to him, the Vice Chancellor acknowledged the economic hardship facing Nigerians and stated that increasing school fees unnecessarily under the prevailing circumstances would be inappropriate.

The SUG President expressed appreciation to the Vice Chancellor for his intervention and willingness to listen, as well as to NANS Zone B and other student leaders who participated in efforts to resolve the crisis.

He said the latest development had helped to prevent further escalation and would provide a basis for a more orderly transition within the Students’ Union.

“History has been made, and what has been achieved today will serve as a reference point for generations of students yet to come,” the SUG President stated.