The Federal University Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE) Alumni Association is currently in turmoil as a coalition of concerned members has formally written to the Acting Vice Chancellor, raising alarm over alleged prolonged mismanagement, tenure elongation, and constitutional breaches by the Alumni President, Mr. Arogundade.
In the petition dated August 20, 2025, the group accused Arogundade of refusing to vacate office after almost ten years in power, despite the constitution mandating a maximum of three years per term. The letter, which was copied to the Governing Council, Deputy Vice Chancellor (Administration), Chief Security Officer, and alumni members nationwide, described the current leadership as a “flagrant violation of trust and accountability.”
The petitioners stated that since assuming office in October 2015, Arogundade’s leadership has been characterized by exclusion, lack of transparency, and disregard for the constitution. They alleged that no congress has been held since 2019 and no financial audit of the association has been conducted, an omission they considered a breach of accountability.
Citing the 2015 and 2019 constitutions of the association, the group emphasized that national officers were meant to serve either four or three years depending on the version. They lamented that Arogundade has held on to power for nearly a decade, well beyond the allowed tenure, without organizing elections or showing willingness to step aside.
The concerned members further revealed that some executive officers resigned over a year ago due to alleged dictatorial tendencies of Arogundade, yet the vacancies have not been filled. This, they argued, has worsened misrepresentation within the alumni body and left the president running the association like a “one-man show.”
They recalled that alumni members have consistently demanded elections since 2022, with an open letter titled “Why Do You Make Us Become Prisoners of Our Own Home” and an X (formerly Twitter) space held in September 2023, tagged “FUOYE: Towards Better Alumni.” Both platforms pushed for a democratic transition, but their calls were ignored.
The petition also faulted the composition of the electoral committee announced in July 2024 by the executives, noting that some nominees chosen by alumni were substituted with individuals handpicked by the leadership. Although members reluctantly accepted the arrangement to avoid further delays, they stressed that trust was already compromised.
Another point of contention is the electoral timetable released in October 2024, which scheduled campaigns between May and August 2025 and an election for September 17, 2025. The petitioners described the year-long delay as “ridiculous and suspicious,” arguing that credible elections should not take that long to conduct.
Even more disturbing, the petition said, is the failure of the electoral committee to communicate vital details about the election to the alumni community. With only weeks to the proposed election date, members say they have no clarity on requirements, voting procedures, or safeguards for a fair process.
Beyond leadership issues, the petition accused the Advancement Center of compelling new graduates to buy souvenirs such as clothes and bags under threat of withholding clearance, even after they had paid alumni dues and compendium fees. This, they said, is an exploitative practice that violates students’ rights.
The petitioners demanded an investigation into the Advancement Center’s alleged coercive souvenir policy. They warned that if the allegations are confirmed, the credibility of the Director of the Advancement Center would be destroyed and alumni trust irreversibly broken.
The group also questioned the motives behind the repeated delays and irregularities in the electoral process. “Who is backing the electoral committee in its failure to act appropriately? Is this the bidding of some within university management, or is it solely the fault of the Advancement Center?” they asked.
They issued four key demands: that FUOYE management should set up an independent oversight committee to ensure elections hold as scheduled; that no aspirant be unjustly disqualified; that the souvenir policy be investigated; and that the university publicly distance itself from these irregularities.
Warning of a looming crisis, the alumni members declared that the university is “sitting on a powder keg that may explode at any moment.” They vowed not to remain silent while the future of their alumni body is jeopardized by what they called “dictatorial leadership and administrative complicity.”
The petition was signed by Joseph Oluwaseun Richard, Akinbobose Oludeji, Awe Adedapo Henry, Aderibigbe Yaqub, and Oladele Philip, who affirmed that their action represents the collective voice of concerned FUOYE alumni. With the September election date approaching, all eyes are now on the Acting Vice Chancellor and FUOYE management to act decisively and restore integrity to the association.
