By OOUCAMPUS MIRROR
There is a quiet violence that precedes electoral fraud and it often begins with the silencing of the press. On July 24, 2026, the Association of Campus Journalists, Obafemi Awolowo University (ACJOAU) issued a statement that should disturb every student who believes in the sanctity of democratic processes. After decades of ethical, impartial, and responsible election coverage, ACJOAU was forced to withdraw from live reporting of the 2024/2025 Students’ Union elections. The reason? Its reporters were harassed, intimidated, manhandled, and deliberately obstructed from doing their jobs.
In a press statement dated July 24, 2026, and signed by the Association’s President, Esther Olatimehin, and Public Relations Officer, Olanrewaju Lawal, ACJOAU announced that it had officially suspended its live election coverage after its accredited reporters reportedly faced persistent harassment while carrying out their duties across various polling units.
According to the statement, despite identifying themselves as accredited members of the Association, reporters were denied access to polling centres in the Faculties of Arts, Agriculture, Basic Medical Sciences, Law, and Social Sciences. The Association further alleged that some of its journalists were manhandled, threatened, and deliberately prevented from documenting proceedings.
The role of the press in any democratic society extends beyond reporting events as they unfold. Journalists serve as independent observers, documenting proceedings, holding institutions accountable, and ensuring that the public has access to credible and timely information. During elections, these responsibilities become even more critical. The presence of the press helps to strengthen transparency, discourage electoral malpractice, and reinforce public trust in the outcome of the process.
The intentional exclusion of journalists from polling units undermines transparency and creates room for doubt about the conduct of the election. As ACJOAU rightly noted in its statement, “The intentional exclusion of ACJ members from polling units raises serious concerns about transparency and public confidence in the conduct of the election.”
The decision to suspend live coverage is, therefore, not merely about access to polling units. It is a reminder of the indispensable role of campus journalism in preserving democratic values within tertiary institutions. Student journalists perform a public service by informing their communities, documenting history, and ensuring that those entrusted with authority remain accountable to the people they serve.
This is not an isolated incident. Across Nigerian universities, student journalists increasingly face hostility during election seasons. Accredited reporters are treated as threats rather than stakeholders. Cameras are seized. Notebooks are confiscated. Voices are silenced. And each time this happens, the democratic space on our campuses shrinks a little more.
Universities are expected to be spaces where freedom of expression, responsible journalism, and democratic participation are protected and encouraged. Any act of harassment, intimidation, or restriction directed at journalists because they are carrying out their legitimate duties contradicts these ideals and sets a troubling precedent for student democracy.
OOU Campus Mirror stands in solidarity with the Association of Campus Journalists, Obafemi Awolowo University, in condemning every form of harassment, intimidation, or obstruction directed at journalists in the course of their lawful duties. Campus elections should never become environments where members of the press are treated as adversaries for fulfilling their responsibility to inform the public.
As ACJOAU aptly stated, “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. Any attempt to silence journalists diminishes public trust in the democratic process and undermines the principles of transparency and accountability.”
The future of student democracy depends not only on peaceful elections but also on the willingness of institutions to uphold transparency, accountability, and the freedom of the press. These are not optional values. They are the foundation upon which free and fair elections are built.
We must recognise that campus journalists are not outsiders looking in; they are the custodians of student interests. They ensure that electoral malpractices do not go undocumented, that voter suppression is exposed, and that the student union remains accountable to those who elected.