ASUU Sokoto Zone Demands Withdrawal of UMYU Chair’s Name From Katsina APC Campaign List

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Sokoto Zone, has called for the immediate withdrawal of Professor Aminu Usman, Chairperson of the union’s Umaru Musa Yar’adua University (UMYU) branch, from the Katsina State APC Campaign Council list.

The union said Professor Usman neither authorised nor consented to the inclusion of his name in the campaign council list for the Tinubu/Dikko campaign, where he reportedly appeared at number six under the Directorate of Planning and Strategy.

In a statement signed by its Zonal Coordinator, Professor Abubakar Sabo, ASUU Sokoto Zone said Professor Usman had formally written to the Director-General of the campaign council, requesting the removal of his name.

The union urged the campaign council organisers to honour the request and cautioned the public against interpreting the inclusion of his name as evidence of his participation in or endorsement of the campaign.

ASUU reiterated that it remained an independent, apolitical and non-partisan organisation, adding that it had established directives governing the partisan political activities of its executive members.

The union acknowledged the constitutional rights of its members to hold political opinions, belong to political parties and participate in the democratic process. However, it stressed that such individual rights must be distinguished from the responsibilities of holding executive positions within the union.

According to the statement, ASUU executive members are expected to abide by the union’s principles and directives and avoid activities that could undermine or create the impression of compromising its non-partisan status.

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The zonal leadership also urged any ASUU-UMYU executive member whose name had been included in the campaign council list without their knowledge or consent to seek its immediate withdrawal and clarify their position where necessary.

It added that any deliberate partisan political engagement by an executive member should be addressed in line with the union’s established principles, directives and applicable procedures.

The union, however, clarified that its position was not directed against the All Progressives Congress (APC) or any other political party, nor was it intended to deny members their lawful political rights.

Rather, it said the position was aimed at protecting ASUU’s institutional independence and maintaining a clear distinction between members’ personal political choices and their responsibilities as union leaders.

ASUU Sokoto Zone reaffirmed its commitment to defending university teachers’ interests, advancing university education, protecting academic freedom and upholding democratic values.

It said adherence to the union’s principles and directives remained essential to preserving its credibility, unity and independence.

Professor Abubakar Sabo

Zonal

Coordinator, ASUU Sokoto Zone