The committee also asked security operatives to arrest impostors allegedly led by “one 48-year old politician, Lucky Emonefe” parading themselves as new leaders of the association.
The Convention Planning Committee of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has confirmed Pedro Obi, a Ph.D. student of Guidance and Counseling studies from the Delta State University as the President-elect of the association.
The committee also asked security operatives to arrest impostors allegedly led by “one 48-year old politician, Lucky Emonefe” parading themselves as new leaders of the association.
Emonefe, aged 48, had declared himself as the president-elect of the association.
The former councillorship aspirant was the preferred choice of Seyi Tinubu, son of President Bola Tinubu.
However, the election committee in a statement named Obi as the new president of the association.
According to the committee, Obi polled 212 votes to defeat Emonefe who scored 83 votes.
Speaking to SaharaReporters on Monday, the new NANS President warned Nigerians to be wary of an imposter parading himself as the leader of the organization.
Obi promised that the association would no longer indulge in partisan politics.
He appreciated the support of all Nigerian students towards the actualisation of the just concluded convention.
The former Zone B Cordinator also said NANS under his leadership would fight against victimisation of students’ leaders and activists on campuses.
He said the new leadership of the students’ association would build strategic partnership with development organisations to ensure students on campuses enjoy better welfare in terms of ICT, Smart Campus, and access to resources for research and academic productivity.
SaharaReporters on Friday reported how the Old Parade Ground, venue of the national convention of the association was characterised by heavy shootings.
The shootings, which started on Thursday, continued on Friday at the venue of the convention, which is a few distance away from the Defence Headquarters, Abuja.
It was learnt that some students sustained wounds from the gunshots and machetes after thugs loyal to a candidate said to be the preferred choice of President Tinubu’s son, Seyi, began attacking opposition delegates.
The newspaper also reported how Seyi allegedly released millions of naira for security operatives and mobilisation of cultists to compromise the national convention and enthrone his preferred candidate.
According to some students leaders, the plot was to ensure that Nigerian students would not rise and lead a revolution against the unpopular government of his father.
According to a source, the payment of the millions in mobilisation followed the pledge by members of the Convention Planning Committee of NANS to deliver his preferred candidates at the convention.
The source had said: "We have it on good authority that Seyi Tinubu has released millions to naira to security operatives in order to compromise the National Convention of NANS and ensure that their preferred candidates emerge.”
"This is coming after the members of the Convention Planning Committee of the association pledged to deliver the preferred candidates of Seyi Tinubu in a video call with Seyi Tinubu two days ago,” another source had disclosed.
SaharaReporters had earlier reported how students and stakeholders kicked against the candidature of one Lucky Emonefe, a 48-year-old politician, as president of the association.