The appointment of Professor Edoba Bright Omoregie as the Vice Chancellor of the University of Benin (UNIBEN) has sparked widespread outrage within the academic community following allegations that the Nigerian Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio, influenced the decision for political reasons.
Professor Omoregie, a lawyer and close associate of Akpabio, was reportedly ranked 21st out of 25 candidates during the selection process. Despite his low ranking and limited administrative experience, he was appointed Vice Chancellor, bypassing more qualified candidates.
Sources within the university described the appointment as “a devastating blow to meritocracy.”
One academic staff member, who spoke to SaharaReporters on the condition of anonymity, said, “There is nothing more painful than seeing mediocrity imposed on an academic institution. The appointment process was a sham—the worst in the university’s history. How can someone with no significant administrative experience, who was ranked at the bottom, suddenly become Vice-Chancellor?”
Further investigation by SaharaReporters revealed that Omoregie has been largely absent from the university system for over four years, reportedly working as Akpabio’s personal lawyer in Abuja. Additionally, he is said to be a legal representative of the Oba of Benin in court cases.
A senior lecturer at the university warned that the appointment could destabilise the institution.
“He will not get the cooperation of the academic community. Akpabio and Mr. President (Bola Tinubu) have just brought instability to UNIBEN,” the lecturer said.
“This is a politically motivated appointment aimed at securing influence for the 2027 elections, where Omoregie is expected to serve as a returning officer.”
The discontent extends beyond the university staff. Alumni of UNIBEN have also expressed disappointment over the perceived erosion of academic integrity.
“A university that has produced great minds in Nigeria and beyond should not be reduced to this level of political interference,” said a former student.
SaharaReporters reviewed past Vice-Chancellor appointments and noted that the selection process has traditionally followed a structured ranking system outlined under the 1992 Accord between the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and the Federal Government.
According to this agreement, the appointment process requires selecting from the top-ranked candidates based on merit. It was learnt that the UNIBEN appointment, however, bypassed this system, raising concerns over political interference.
Among the top-ranked candidates were Prof. Abiodun Falodun (Department of Pharmacy), ranked 1st; Prof. Ikponwonsa Omoruyi (Faculty of Law), ranked 2nd; and Prof. Ray Ozolua (Faculty of Pharmacy), ranked 3rd.
Other highly qualified candidates included Prof. George Eriyarem, Prof. Osemwenkhia, Prof. Kessington Obahiagbon, Prof. Sadoh, and Prof. Francis Osagiede — all ranked higher than Omoregie.
A professor within the university community questioned the rationale behind the appointment. “Does President Tinubu realise the long-term damage this decision will cause? If the President signed off on this appointment knowing that the candidate ranked 21st, then history will not be kind to him.”
Concerns have also been raised over the potential political implications of the appointment. There are fears that the move is part of a broader strategy to influence the 2027 elections by installing political allies as returning officers in strategic institutions.
Political interference in university administration is not new, but the scale of the controversy surrounding Omoregie’s appointment has intensified calls for reform.
Stakeholders within the university are now calling for a review of the appointment process to safeguard the integrity of future selections and maintain UNIBEN’s academic reputation.
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Source: Sahara Reporters
