There is intense lobbying, horse-trading, ethnic rivalry and persecution of the 18 professors vying for the position of Vice Chancellor of the University of Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, resulting in a leadership crisis and gaps in the management cadre of the institution.

The battle to occupy the position of Vice Chancellor of Uniuyo includes 18 erudite scholars namely: Profs Ini Akpabio, Valerie Aniema, Edet Udoh, Patrick Akpan, Aniekan Offiong, Etete Peters, Chris Ekong and Anthonia Essien among others.

This has thrown the entire University of Uyo community into leadership problems following the expiration of the tenure of the former Vice Chancellor Prof Nyaudoh Ndaeyo whose tenure elapsed on 30 November 2025.

Our correspondent gathered that the alleged refusal of the Chairman of the University Governing Council Muiz Banire to ratify the decision of the Senate which settled for the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academics) Prof Anthonia Essien as Acting Vice Chancellor deepened the crisis that engulfed the institution.

Our reporter gathered that the institution has been grappling with a leadership vacuum since the expiration of the tenure of the immediate past Vice Chancellor of the University, Professor Nyaudoh Ndaeyo, which ended on 30 November 2025.

A member of the University Senate who spoke to Sunday Sun on condition of anonymity expressed his resentment over the development in the 42-year-old institution.

He said in the event of a leadership vacuum, any of the Deputy Vice Chancellors (DVCs) automatically steps in as traditionally guaranteed by the law, that is, if any of the DVC is not in the race for the VC position as provided by law.

He explained that some members of the Senate had, in a petition letter addressed to the Minister of Education, Dr Maruf Alausa, drawn the Minister’s attention to what they called “series of troubling actions and commission by the chairman of the council, Dr Muiz Banire”, noting that his actions had stalled lawful appointment of the 9th substantive VC of the University and plunged it into “uncertainty, procedural violations and avoidable tension”.

He noted that when the tenure of the outgoing VC was approaching, the Senate acted proactively in accordance with the directives of the Federal Ministry of Education and Nigerian Universities Commission, adding that at its 138th meeting steps were taken to avert leadership vacuum in the university.

According to him, the Senate therefore recommended the DVC (Academic) to step in, but lamented that the recommendation was turned down by the chairman of the council without recourse to the Senate.

He disclosed that the Council chairman later directed the Senate to conduct an election to nominate a candidate to be ratified by the Council as acting VC, adding that during the election Professor Luke Eyo scored 39, Professor Ibom Anondona secured 4 votes while Professor Roseline Uyanga got 102 votes and was subsequently recommended.

He lamented, however, that feelers have indicated that the chairman is still bent on his unilateral attitude, resulting in governance paralysis in the institution.

“The law traditionally, legally states that if the two DVCs are not in the race, any of them becomes the acting VC in event of leadership vacuum, because they have been trained and most times they stand in for the VC. There would have been election in the floor of the Senate but now that Professor Anthonia Essien has withdrawn herself from the race since 21st of November, 2025, automatically, she should have been the Acting VC.

“Believing that she has withdrawn from the race, the Senate recommended her as the acting VC, because the law specifically states that if there is a vacuum, the Council appoints based on the recommendation of the Senate. So, the Senate sends recommendations to the council and the council ratifies and appoints because of checks and balances of the University system.

“The recommendation went, and the council chairman was so annoyed, that he never gave the approval for the election.

“The Council chairman later directed the Senate to conduct an election to nominate and recommend a candidate to be ratified by the council as acting VC. During that election professor Luke Eyo scored 39, Professor Ibom Anondona secured 4 votes while professor Roseline Uyanga got 102 votes and was subsequently recommended.

“Surprisingly, feelers from the representative members of the Senate in the Governing Council at the Council’s virtual meeting of 9th December, 2025, indicate that the chairman still maintained his unilateral position and continue to override Senate’s decision.”

He clarified that the Council and the Senate are not supposed to be in competition but complementary to each other for good governance of the University system.

“The Council is not expected to impose itself on the Senate. They are not supposed to be in competition; they are supposed to be complementary to each other, for good governance of the university, and also in line with the autonomy act.”

The most pathetic Is the case of some concerned professors of Annang ethnic group in the University of Uyo who have drawn attention of authorities to their plight as they have not produced the VC of the Institution despite their contributions to knowledge in the university system.

In a petition signed by Itai Afe V Annang His Majesty Obong B. U Awaka-Ama to the Senate President Senator Godswill Akpabio and made available to journalists in Uyo, the monarch recalled that no professor from Annang has ever produced the VC of Uniuyo from the days of former University of Cross River State (Unicross) till today.

The royal father therefore pleaded with Senate President to intervene and save the career of Annang-born professors of the institution to avoid further marginalisation.

“It is clear and undisputed fact that from the days of University of Cross River State to the University of Uyo – 1983- 2025 (42 years) Nobody from Annang has ever been appointed Vice Chancellor of the University of Uyo.”

The Monarch recommended Prof Patrick Akpan for Akpabio to adopt as the candidate for appointment into the office of the Vice Chancellor for justice, equity and fair play.

Meanwhile, some members of the Senate who spoke with Daily Sun urged the Federal Government to caution the University of Uyo Governing Council over alleged inefficiency in the handling of the selection process of new Vice Chancellor of the institution.

“The Governing Council ignore all recommendations of the University Senate on appointment of VC and through the institution into leadership crisis. We call on federal government to caution the Governing Council for corruption and incompetence.”

Others urged the federal government to dissolve the Governing Council of Uniuyo on grounds of incompetence, alleged corruption and conflict of interest by the Chairman Dr Muiz Banire adding that they have already petitioned the Minister of Education on these issues.

Chairman of Governing Council, Dr Muiz Banire while reacting to all the allegations in a text message sent to our reporter described the allegations as frivolous.

He said, “Have you seen a new VC appointed to justify the claimed unilateral decision taken? That suffices to show the frivolity of the allegation.”

He said that all Council members have been involved in every decision taken during meetings on all issues emphasising that records have been taken during meetings.

“In addition, can you quote a single member of the Council that was not involved in all decisions taken on all issues so far? If that member says so, then I can specifically react.

“For now, to the best of my knowledge, they have all been participating and there are recordings of all meetings. Remember, I am a lawyer.” He threatened. (The Sun)