When Ballots Replaced Brawls: How OSPOLY Finally Broke Its Election Violence Curse
For decades, election seasons at Osun State Polytechnic, Iree (OSPOLY) were synonymous with tension. Once campaign posters appeared on the walls of lecture halls and hostel gates, anxiety followed closely behind. What ought to be a celebration of campus democracy often degenerated into chaos. The Students’ Union Government (S.U.G), Faculty of Information Communication Technology (F.I.C.T), and Mass Communication Department elections – three of the most competitive and influential contests on campus – regularly ended in shouting matches, vandalism, injuries, and sometimes indefinite suspension of student activities.
But in 2025, something extraordinary happened. The air was different. The campus, which had once braced itself for conflict, witnessed instead a peaceful and orderly election season that surprised even the most skeptical students. For the first time in living memory, OSPOLY conducted its three most sensitive elections without any violence, protest, or riot.
This was not a coincidence; it was the result of deliberate planning, forward-thinking reforms, and a conscious decision by both management and students to turn a new page.
To understand the magnitude of this transformation, one must first appreciate OSPOLY’s turbulent electoral history. Student politics in Nigerian tertiary institutions have long mirrored the larger national democratic culture – passionate, competitive, and sometimes volatile.
At OSPOLY, election periods were often marked by factional clashes, accusations of manipulation, and street-style rivalries between departments and faculty blocs. The Students’ Union Government election, in particular, became a testing ground for influence and popularity. Many students saw it as a gateway to fame, recognition, and sometimes political ambition beyond campus.
The Faculty of Information Communication Technology (F.I.C.T) and the Mass Communication Department, both populated by vibrant, outspoken students, had reputations for intense campaigns. Over the years, these elections frequently escalated into chaos, leading to damaged facilities, disrupted academic calendars, and a general loss of trust in campus democracy.
While the school management often stepped in to restore calm, the pattern repeated itself year after year. The fear of election periods became ingrained in OSPOLY’s culture, and many staff members viewed the season with understandable apprehension.
Then came 2025 — a year that marked the beginning of a new political consciousness at OSPOLY. The management, under a renewed commitment to campus peace and administrative innovation, decided that history would not repeat itself.
Before campaigns began, all contestants across the S.U.G, F.I.C.T, and Mass Communication Department elections were required to sign a binding undertaking of peace. This document – a “No-Riot” agreement – made each aspirant personally responsible for maintaining decorum before, during, and after the elections.
This simple but powerful agreement shifted the tone of campus politics. Candidates were no longer just answerable to their supporters; they were accountable to the entire institution. The undertaking created a sense of collective responsibility.
The second innovation, E-voting, completely changed the game. Gone were the days of manual voting, ballot snatching, or overcrowded polling units. For the first time, students could vote electronically through the school’s official portal using their unique matriculation numbers. The process was transparent, quick, and tamper-proof.
The introduction of E-voting did not only modernize the electoral process; it also dismantled the physical spaces where violence used to erupt. Without queues, crowding, or paper ballots, there was no room for intimidation or clashes. The election day passed with calmness that OSPOLY had not witnessed in years.
The 2025 elections did more than select new leaders – they redefined campus democracy itself. For once, leadership was chosen not through fear or force, but through a credible and transparent process.
Observers noted a significant shift in student behavior. Instead of aggressive campaigns and rivalry chants, students turned to issue-based debates, online manifestos, and digital awareness. Candidates focused more on their plans for better student welfare, academic support, and campus innovation. The management’s presence and enforcement of the new rules also reassured the campus community that fairness was non-negotiable.
Peaceful campaigns also brought an unexpected benefit: student unity. Across departments, there was a new sense of shared pride that OSPOLY had matured past its old reputation. The campus, once a theater of election-time hostilities, became a model of civility.
At the heart of OSPOLY’s peaceful transition lies technology. The E-voting system did not just streamline elections; it introduced a level of transparency that was once thought impossible in student politics.
By allowing each student to vote remotely through their personal login, the system eliminated manipulation and the tension of physical voting environments. It also strengthened confidence in the credibility of results. Once the voting period ended, the results were displayed promptly – with no suspicion of tampering.
The ripple effect went beyond the election itself. E-voting became a case study in how digital solutions can promote peace in institutions where traditional systems have failed. It showed that with proper planning and accountability, technology could be an instrument of trust and order.
While technology played a crucial role, the management’s proactive strategy was equally instrumental. The leadership of OSPOLY understood that peace is not automatic – it must be nurtured through communication, enforcement, and inclusion.
The decision to make all aspirants sign the “No-Riot” undertaking was more than symbolic. It sent a clear message that the school valued democratic participation but would no longer tolerate indiscipline. The process also gave contestants a platform to express commitment to peace, reinforcing the legitimacy of their campaigns.
During the entire election period, security personnel maintained a visible but non-aggressive presence on campus, serving as a deterrent to any potential disorder. Academic activities continued unhindered, further signaling that elections were no longer disruptions but part of the normal rhythm of campus life.
In the weeks following the elections, the change in atmosphere at OSPOLY was noticeable. Students who once viewed politics with suspicion began to see it as a legitimate avenue for service and leadership. Classrooms and social spaces buzzed with discussions about policy ideas, not protests.
The success of the peaceful elections also boosted the school’s image beyond Iree. For the first time in years, OSPOLY made headlines not for crisis, but for commendable reform. The achievement served as a unifying victory for the entire campus community – management, staff, and students alike.
Most importantly, it set a precedent. Future election seasons would now be judged against the peace and order of 2025.
OSPOLY’s 2025 election transformation offers a microcosmic reflection of Nigeria’s broader democratic challenges and opportunities. Just as the school’s past elections mirrored the unrest and distrust that sometimes characterize national politics, its recent success demonstrates what is possible when transparency, accountability, and innovation meet.
The peaceful conduct proved that violence is not inevitable in elections – it is a product of system failure and poor preparation. With firm policies, digital tools, and civic responsibility, even a once-volatile political environment can be reborn.
OSPOLY’s story offers valuable lessons for other Nigerian tertiary institutions still grappling with election-related unrest.
The 2025 peaceful elections at Osun State Polytechnic, Iree, mark more than just a successful administrative feat. They symbolize a generational shift – from confrontation to collaboration, from distrust to digital confidence.
For a school once haunted by the ghosts of violent polls, this year’s experience has written a new chapter of pride and progress. It has shown that transformation is possible when leadership listens, innovation is embraced, and students rise above the old ways.
In a time when many institutions struggle to maintain peace during transitions of power, OSPOLY stands tall as an example of how determination and discipline can rewrite history.
What began as a simple “No-Riot” signature and a few lines of computer code for E-voting has become a blueprint for campus harmony. And in that blueprint lies a powerful message: peace, like progress, begins with choice.
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