The Nigerian Students Association (NANS) has today announced the disqualification of a 52-year-old presidential aspirant, along with six other individuals, from the ongoing NANS elections for presenting fake or unverifiable studentship credentials.
In a statement issued by the National President of NANS, Comrade Chike Akintoye, the association affirmed its commitment to ensuring that only genuine students are allowed to participate in the electoral process, emphasizing the need for integrity and transparency.
The disqualified aspirants were found to have submitted falsified documents, claiming enrollment in educational institutions, despite not being active students. The 52-year-old presidential aspirant, whose name has not been disclosed for privacy reasons, was the most high-profile individual among those removed from the race, raising concerns over the credibility of the process. The six other individuals, whose details are yet to be released, were also implicated in fraudulent activities tied to their purported studentship.
According to Comrade Akintoye, “NANS has always been a strong advocate for youth participation in governance, but this must be done with honesty and accountability. Our studentship verification process is rigorous, and we will not tolerate any form of dishonesty. Those who seek to represent the interests of Nigerian students must be actively engaged in academic pursuits and remain committed to the values we stand for.”
The NANS Electoral Committee, which conducted the investigation, is now calling for a reevaluation of other aspirants' credentials to ensure the integrity of the election process. All aspirants are reminded of the importance of adhering to the constitutional guidelines of the association, which explicitly require participants to be enrolled students at accredited Nigerian institutions.