REFERENDUM PETITION

To: The Administration of the African Leadership University (ALU)
CC: The ALU Student Representative Council (SRC) Election Committee
Date: 3/1/2025

Subject: Petition Against the Unconstitutional Suspension of a Presidential Candidate and Call for Democratic Electoral Integrity

We, the undersigned students of the African Leadership University (ALU), hereby submit this petition in response to the unconstitutional actions taken by the Student Life Team concerning the 2025 SRC Presidential Elections. We believe in upholding the principles of democracy, transparency, and fair representation in student governance and strongly object to the undue interference in the electoral process.

Candidate Emmanuel Oden, who was contesting for the position of SRC President, was suspended from campaigning by the Election Committee after violating a constitutional clause regarding email communication with students. The Election Committee, as an independent electoral body, rightfully exercised its authority in issuing this suspension. However, the subsequent intervention by the Student Life Team, leading to the complete suspension of Emmanuel Oden’s candidacy, is a direct breach of the ALU SRC Constitution, which explicitly states that the Election Committee operates independently and must remain free from external influence, including from higher administrative bodies.

We, as members of the ALU student body, strongly reject the unlawful decision taken by Student Life and demand the following corrective measures to restore fairness, constitutional integrity, and democracy within the SRC elections:

1. That candidate Emmanuel Oden be given a fair trial in which he is allowed to bring his defense and have it duly considered.
   1. Acknowledgment of the Election Commission's Independence – ALU must formally recognize and uphold the independence of the Election Commission in line with the SRC Constitution.
   2. Clarification of Dual Punishment – The Election Commission must provide a clear and detailed explanation outlining the justification for imposing dual punishments on Emmanuel Oden.
   3. Election Commission Transparency – The Election Commission must prove beyond reasonable doubt that it has not been influenced or tampered with. If such proof is not provided, a new Election Commission should be elected

We call upon all ALU students who believe in democracy and fairness to sign this petition in support of our demands.