EDITORIAL

BIASES IN ELECTIONS

Elections in faculty of veterinary medicine, as opposed to elections in other faculties of the university and halls of residence are unarguably boring. As many spectators have commented, election in veterinary medicine is like choosing from a list devoid of varieties, you will always have to pick one. Unfortunately, the situation, for many years now, has not gotten any better. The electoral scenario within the faculty is even made worse with diverse forms of biases looming into the scene.

''You are in the same class and you are contesting for the same position?" "You are friends and you are vying for the same post?" "You are seatmates and you will go against each other at the election?" It is so disgusting that these are the lugubrious questions veterinary medical students ask one another when they see their colleagues going for electoral posts. Maybe that is why we are having an annual surge of official shortcomings because potential aspirants are cut short based on emotional disposition and yearly, the emotionally advantaged candidates get on official positions, not necessarily the best of candidates with great plans. Even in many instances in the political setting of the faculty, many prospective aspirants have been forced to step down for another based on reasons that obviously have emotional attachment; probably we have lost numerous potential great leaders that might have propelled the faculty to its zenith.

Even within the religion setting within the faculty, there have been cases where candidates are given upper-hand just based on their religion. “This brother or sister is from our fellowship, we must vote him/her,” “we pray together with the presidential aspirant, she/he must have all our votes,” these are filthy speeches one hears within the faculty. It is quite unfortunate that students going through such professional training like vet can be found exhibiting religious susceptibility, as we have had instances where a set of people say they are voting for a particular candidate to propel their religion within the faculty. Many students, rather than focusing on how to make positive change in the faculty by voting for the right candidate with the desirable substance have resorted to exhibiting electoral bias and this might ultimately result into getting the very worst candidates for different political positions. 

It is even depressing that some chatters have been raging all over the faculty. Some candidates have been assured support based on their origin and locality. You will hear putrid comments like "Ogbomosho la wa oo," "omo ogun rere," "omo saki,” “omo oyo,” “omo gbagi." These are just highly irritating and there is no evidence of professionalism in these acts.

Veterinary medical students should recall that best candidates for electoral posts are not necessarily based on emotional attachments, religious or origin bias, but hinged on their ability to project the faculty forward. In any electoral setting, be it faculty, university, halls of residence or even civil setting, electorates should take time to access different aspirants for their potential leadership prowess and relegate the affairs of the governmental role based on ability,  never on sentiment.