FCMS holds first-ever student election, elects new executive council

ABUJA, NIGERIA — The Faculty of Communication and Media Studies (FCMS) has successfully ushered in its pioneer student leadership following its historic first-ever executive council election, held on Friday, June 26, 2026.

According to an on-site report compiled by Igboka Annabel of the Department of Development and Strategic Communication at the University of Abuja, the democratic exercise commenced at exactly 8:00 a.m. Despite a sluggish start to voter turnout in the morning, the electoral process gained significant momentum by midday, culminating in a peaceful voting and physical vote-counting process.

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High-Stakes Duels and ‘Yes/No’ Endorsements

The pioneer poll marked a significant milestone for the newly established faculty. While top-tier positions such as President, Vice President, Director of Welfare, and Director of Socials featured fiercely contested, multi-candidate races, several administrative portfolios were uncontested. To maintain democratic integrity for the unopposed positions, the electoral committee introduced a referendum-style ballot, requiring students to vote either “Yes” or “No” to endorse or reject each sole candidate.

The polling hall initially opened to a trickle of 100-level and 200-level students, who were guided through the new voting process by members of the electoral committee under the watchful eyes of accredited candidate agents. By 10:00 a.m., a large wave of 200-level students had swarmed the venue, and by 11:00 a.m., the faculty corridor was packed with eager voters standing in orderly queues.

The unconventional ballot structure generated significant chatter on the lines, with several voters seeking clarifications because the names of the unopposed candidates were omitted from the printed referendum sheets. The high-energy environment also saw last-minute debates, with some students visibly changing their voting intentions right before casting their ballots.

The Final Countdown and Results

At exactly 11:50 a.m., an electoral official issued a final 10-minute warning before officially closing the ballot boxes at noon. In a move to ensure transparency, the electoral committee moved the transparent ballot boxes to the upper corridor of the faculty building, where ballots were openly sorted and counted in full view of a large crowd of students gathered in the courtyard below. The crowd enthusiastically echoed each vote as it was announced.

The contest for Director of Welfare between Agatha and Onyebuchi proved to be the most dramatic of the afternoon. Agatha established an early lead, but Onyebuchi mounted a strong comeback midway through the count to draw level before Agatha pulled ahead in the final stages.

Following the collation of the physical ballots and the integration of certified online votes, the electoral committee declared the final results:

• President: Oladoja emerged victorious in a landslide, polling 278 votes to defeat Micheal, who secured 87 votes.
• Vice President: Shukurah clinched the seat with 244 votes, defeating Ene, who polled 125 votes.
• Director of Welfare: Agatha won the highly contested race with 278 votes, defeating Onyebuchi, who finished with 132 votes.
• Director of Socials: Riri claimed victory with 216 votes, defeating Peculiar, who polled 144 votes.

For the unopposed positions, students overwhelmingly voted “Yes” to ratify the remaining members of the executive council: Gladys (Secretary General), Hycent (Financial Secretary), Micheal (Director of Sports), Omolola (Treasurer), Ola (Director of Academics), Esther (Provost), Bella (Director of Information), and Chioma (Assistant Secretary General).

The successful and peaceful conclusion of the election has set a strong democratic foundation for the Faculty of Communication and Media Studies as it begins a new chapter in student representation.