Some former leaders of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) have rejected claims that the Southwest has endorsed a consensus candidate for the association’s 2026 presidency, insisting that the leadership of the student body must emerge through constitutional democratic processes.
The former student leaders were reacting to a publication claiming that the Southwest Elders and Stakeholders Forum had endorsed a candidate as the region’s consensus choice for the 2026 NANS presidency.
In a statement, the group said while political participation and the freedom to express support for aspirants are legitimate aspects of democracy, Nigerian students must not be misled by endorsements presented as representing the collective decision of the Southwest.
The statement was signed by Niniola Toheeb, former Chairman of NANS/JCC Oyo Axis; Omololu Abidoye, former Chairman of NANS/JCC Osun Axis; Balogun Olawale, former Chairman of NANS/JCC Ogun Axis; and Nwenonye Dennis, former Secretary-General of NANS Zone D.
According to them, NANS belongs to the generality of Nigerian students and not to individuals who describe themselves as stakeholders or external actors.
“The first and most fundamental principle that must be established is that NANS belongs to Nigerian students, not to self-appointed stakeholders, businessmen, political patrons, or external actors,” the statement said.
They stressed that the legitimacy of NANS leadership can only be derived from the constitutional democratic process of the association, rather than endorsements by individuals whose relationship with the student movement may be largely transactional.
The former student leaders cautioned that the future of the student body should not be determined in private meetings.
“NANS leadership cannot be determined in private gatherings of political merchants. The destiny of Nigerian students cannot be negotiated in hotel rooms. The future of NANS must remain in the hands of Nigerian students through constitutional processes,” they stated.
The group also dismissed claims that the individuals who issued the endorsement represented students in the Southwest, describing the narrative as misleading.
They argued that the legitimate voices of the zone are the Students’ Union Governments and campus-based student bodies across universities, polytechnics and colleges of education.
According to them, individuals who have long exited the student movement cannot legitimately claim to speak for millions of students across tertiary institutions in the region.
The statement further noted that the constitution of NANS does not recognise any arrangement that empowers elders or external stakeholders to impose a consensus candidate.
“While consensus-building is not alien to democratic politics, any consensus that bypasses the constitutional structures of NANS and alienates legitimate aspirants lacks legitimacy,” the statement said.
The former student leaders warned against what they described as the growing commercialisation of the student movement, noting that allowing non-students to determine NANS leadership could turn the association into a political marketplace.
They urged aspirants seeking to lead the student body to a campaign based on their vision, commitment to student welfare and record of activism, rather than relying on what they described as manufactured endorsements.
The group also called on Students’ Union presidents who will serve as delegates at the NANS national convention to remain committed to the constitutional electoral process.
“The leadership of the largest student organisation in Africa must emerge from transparent, credible and constitutionally guided elections, not from endorsements by individuals whose interests may not align with the collective aspirations of Nigerian students,” the statement added.