Mr. Maradona Adjei Yeboah, better known as Guru NKZ, has officially contested his disqualification from the University of Ghana’s Student Representative Council (SRC) presidential race. The disqualification, issued by the SRC Electoral Commission, was based on the grounds that Guru did not meet the residency requirement stipulated in the university’s SRC constitution.
According to the SRC constitution, candidates for executive positions must be residents of one of the university’s halls, a condition Guru reportedly did not fulfill. This requirement is designed to ensure that all candidates are actively involved in the student community and can effectively represent their peers.
In response to the disqualification, Guru took to social media platform X to announce that he has filed a formal petition with both the Electoral Commission and the Office of the Dean of Student Affairs. Additionally, his legal team has filed an interim injunction with the Judicial Board to pause the electoral process until a full hearing and ruling on the matter can be conducted.
Guru expressed his disappointment with the decision, stating, “We understand the frustration and concern this situation has caused among our supporters and the general body of students. However, we want to assure you that our commitment to building an SRC with everyone remains stronger than ever.”
The disqualification was confirmed by a vetting report from the SRC’s Vetting Committee on August 16, 2024, which found that both Guru and another aspirant, Lawrence Edinam Egleh, failed to meet the qualifications due to their non-residential status.
Under the UG SRC Constitution, a candidate is not qualified for any executive office unless they meet the eligibility requirements under their hall’s constitution.
According to Article 30 (1) (a) of the UG-SRC Constitution, only students who reside in one of the university’s halls are eligible to hold an executive office. This rule led to the disqualification of both Guru and another aspirant, Lawrence Edinam Egleh, following the vetting process conducted on August 11, 2024.
Guru, contesting the decision, has lodged a petition with the SRC Electoral Commission and the Office of the Dean of Student Affairs, seeking to overturn his disqualification. He has also filed an interim injunction with the Judicial Board to pause the electoral process until a final ruling is made.
The SRC’s Vetting Committee, in its report dated August 16, 2024, confirmed the disqualification, stating that both Guru and Egleh failed to meet the residency requirement, thus rendering them ineligible to contest in the election.