The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has warned the National Youth Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dayo Israel, not to hold any political programme in tertiary institutions without involving recognised student leadership structures.
A statement by the Forum of NANS Zonal Coordinators alleged that the APC youth leader was planning to hold political activities across campuses with some state governments allegedly sidelining NANS executives, Joint Campus Committee (JCC) leaders and Students’ Union governments.
The statement was signed by the Chairman of the Forum and NANS Zone C Coordinator, Hussaini Jamilu Ebbo; General Secretary and Zone F Coordinator, Emmanuel Ekecheukwu Iyke; Public Relations Officer and Zone A Coordinator, Nuruddeen Baba Waziri; Zone B Coordinator, Victor Ogoechukwu Anthony; Zone D Coordinator, Josiah Kayode Adeyemo; and Zone E Coordinator, Muhammed Muazu Hina.
The forum condemned the alleged move as unacceptable, emphasising that Nigerian students cannot be used as tools of political mobilising or fundraising without the involvement of their elected representatives. Political Science
The organisers said any political participation involving students or happening in tertiary institutions must be preceded by consultations with recognised student leaders and competent institutional officials.
“We don’t want to be looking for political recognition or patronage. The statement said: “It is about transparency, accountability, proper coordination and, above all, safety of students.
With the 2027 general elections looming and political temperatures rising in some regions of the country, student leaders stated their fears that universities should not be subjected to partisan rivalry, political violence or security risks.
They cautioned on the use of higher institutions as grounds for political mobilising, saying the actions could jeopardise the welfare, security and academic environment of students.
Dayo Israel, we expressly warn you not to convert colleges into political mobilisation grounds and ignore the mechanisms that are responsible for the welfare and security of students. It also said in the statement: “The student constituency should not be used for political benefit or as a platform to access public funds without transparency and genuine participation.” Politics
The meeting also called on the state governments and managements of higher institutions to emphasise the safety of students and academic stability before political considerations.
It called on university administrators not to accept politically sensitive programs on campuses without proper security assessment, institutional neutrality and consultation with acknowledged student leadership.
While expressing its desire to work constructively with political parties and other stakeholders, the forum said it would fight any attempt to exploit and imperil students under the name of youth involvement.
“Our campuses are centres of learning, not political feeding grounds,” said the statement.
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