David Umahi Federal University of Health Sciences (DUFUHS), Uburu, Ebonyi State, has set a new benchmark in university governance with the successful conduct of what it describes as Nigeria’s first fully digital Students’ Union Government (SUG) election using a Computer-Based Test (CBT) voting platform.
The groundbreaking exercise, which was completed within a few hours, allowed eligible students to cast their votes electronically through the university’s examination portal, ensuring a transparent, secure and credible electoral process.
Presenting Certificates of Return to the newly elected SUG executives, the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Jesse Uneke, said the innovation was introduced to eliminate electoral malpractice, improve efficiency and strengthen students’ confidence in the democratic process.
According to him, the university designed a secure voting platform integrated into its CBT examination system, allowing only duly registered students to participate in the election.
“When I announced that we would conduct an election in a way never before seen in any Nigerian university, many thought I was joking. We developed a system that enabled students to vote through the examination portal,” he said.
Prof. Uneke explained that all contestants were screened before the election, while each voter logged into the system using their registration credentials to access the electronic ballot. He added that the platform automatically logged out any voter who failed to cast a ballot within ten minutes, ensuring a smooth and orderly process.
He noted that votes were counted electronically and displayed live in real time before the final results were announced immediately after voting concluded.
Describing the exercise as a major milestone, the Vice-Chancellor said the university remains committed to pioneering innovations that promote transparency and excellence in higher education. He also announced that the inauguration of the newly elected SUG executives would take place next week.
The Special Assistant to the Ebonyi State Governor on Students’ Affairs, Mr. Joshua Nwafor, praised the university management for introducing what he described as an unprecedented electoral model.
He said the exercise was free, fair and transparent, adding that it represents a new standard that other tertiary institutions across the country could emulate.
Students who participated in the election also applauded the process, describing it as peaceful, seamless and highly credible.
The newly elected SUG President, Ujebe Ebere Lacristo, described the election as a landmark achievement for the institution, pledging to lead an administration anchored on transparency, accountability and purposeful leadership.
Other students, including Nwobasi Patrick and Ani Chinonso, commended the university for the hitch-free conduct of the election, noting that results were displayed live on television screens, allowing students to monitor the outcome in real time.
The successful deployment of a CBT-based voting platform marks another milestone for DUFUHS and positions the institution as a trailblazer in the use of technology to deepen democratic participation within Nigeria’s university system.
