The Students’ Union Government of the University of Benin, Edo State, was placed on indefinite leave by the administration on Tuesday.

In a statement, the university’s registrar, Ademola Bobola, stated that the SUG suspension was related to the chaos that occurred on campus on April 12 during the visit of Olumide Akpata, a former student and governorship candidate for the Edo State Labour Party.

Akpata, who is running to be the next governor of Edo State, was reportedly present at an interactive meeting held on the university’s Ugbowo campus by the University of Benin Staff Club.

According to reports, several thugs interrupted the event, injuring senior professor Dr. Presley Osemwegie in the process.

Akpata and the student body president had been trading accusations on the incident.

Akpata, a former lawyer who is now a politician, denied that his opponents in politics were behind the assailants, despite the students’ claims that he let his security guards loose on them.

In a statement released on Monday night, the university registrar stated that after looking into the instances, its management chose to suspend the SUG indefinitely.

Bobola said, “The university management has received the report of the panel constituted to investigate the incidents that occurred in the Faculty of Law and the University’s Senior Staff Club on Friday, April 12, 2024.

“After due consideration of the report by the management, the Vice Chancellor has approved the suspension of the university’s Students Union.

“The suspension, which is indefinite, takes immediate effect, that is, from Monday, April 29, 2024.

“Accordingly, all officers of the Students’ Union are to hand over all properties of the union in their possession to the Dean, Students’ Affairs not later than 4 pm on Tuesday, April 30, 2024.

“In the interim, a Caretaker Committee, composed of representatives of faculties, schools and institutes, has been approved to coordinate students’ activities during the period of suspension.”