OAU Campus Journalists Stop Covering SU Election Due to Harassment Claims

The Association of Campus Journalists at Obafemi Awolowo University (ACJOAU) has stopped its live coverage of the 2024/2025 Students’ Union election. They claim their members faced harassment, intimidation, and were denied access to polling units while trying to do their jobs.

In a statement signed by Esther Olatimehin, the association’s President, and Olanrewaju Lawal, the Public Relations Officer, ACJOAU said they made this choice after several incidents involving their reporters during the election.

The association said that even after identifying themselves as accredited journalists, electoral officials still blocked them from entering polling units in the Faculties of Arts, Agriculture, Basic Medical Sciences, Law, and Social Sciences.

According to the statement, some reporters were allegedly manhandled, threatened, and deliberately stopped from covering the electoral process.

"As a result, the association describes these actions as a serious assault on press freedom and a direct attack on the peaceful, transparent, and accountable process that should be a defining feature of every democratic election," the statement read.

ACJOAU said that keeping their reporters out of polling units raised worries about transparency and public trust in the election. They added that they would stop giving election updates until the safety and unrestricted access of their members are assured.

This decision came after earlier reports from the association about the restrictions their journalists faced at various polling centers during the election.

In one case, ACJOAU reported that a reporter covering the Hall Executive Council election at Mozambique Hall was allegedly harassed by a student named Fatoyinbo Azeez and others while on official duty.

The alleged harassment has been condemned by Adejumo Kabir, the Editorial Adviser of ACJOAU.

Mr Kabir, in a statement, described the incidents as an attack on press freedom and democratic accountability.

"I find these reports disturbing. Campus journalists are not enemies of the electoral process; they are indispensable stakeholders in it. Their responsibility is to provide timely, accurate and independent coverage that promotes transparency, accountability, and public trust," he wrote.

Mr Kabir expressed disappointment that reporters continued to experience hostility while doing their jobs.

He called on the Students’ Union Electoral Commission, university security, candidates, supporters, and other stakeholders to ensure the safety of accredited journalists during the elections. He also urged that those behind the intimidation should be identified and punished.

"For decades, ACJOAU has upheld a reputation of ethical, impartial, and responsible coverage of Students’ Union elections," the association said.

"A credible election relies not only on the votes cast but also on the freedom of the press to observe, document, and report proceedings without fear, intimidation, or interference."