Students’ protest rocks Fedpoly Offa

BOTH education and socio-economic activities around the Federal Polytechnic, Offa, Kwara State were grounded on Tuesday ‎following a peaceful protest by students of the institution over an alleged decision of the school management to disqualify a student-presidential candidate said to have won last students union government election of the institution.

Tribune Online gathered that Akanbi Quadri of Liberation Movement group of the school won the students union election while Tijani Kamel from Reformation group emerged as runner up.

It was also gathered that Kamel was said to have been favoured by the school management, while Quadri was allegedly disqualified for not meeting the ‎cumulative academic requirement for participating in the election.

The development, according to sources in the institution was said to have angered the students of the institution ‎as they accused the management of the institution of allegedly planning to impose its cronies as the students union president of the polytechnic.

It was gathered that the students, who had mobilised themselves, blocked all entrances of the institution, thereby preventing vehicular movement in and out of the school.

Men of the state police command, Offa divisional police office and state security service among other security operatives quickly mobilised themselves to maintain law and order.

Speaking on the development, the Public Relations Officer of Federal Polytechnic, Offa, Mr Ladi Badmos, who confirmed the incident denied any move by the school management to swear‎ in any person other than Mr Quadri as the president of the students union of the institution, saying the students only acted based on rumour.

He however said that normalcy had returned to the campus.

Also speaking, the PPRO of the state police command, Ajayi Okasanmi, said that men of the command were still on ground to prevent any further reaction in the school.