Students of the Lagos State University, Ojo on Monday elected a new executive to direct their affairs for the 2013/2014 session.

The election took place via an electronic voting process.

Nurudeen Yusuf, popularly known as “Optimist,” emerged as the president, with 558 votes. He defeated four other candidates.

The LASU Student Union Independent Electoral Chairman, Onikoyi Tajudeen, said the e-voting offered the students the opportunity to witness a free and fair election.

He said, “For the past decades, all election procedures have been marred with malpractice. The e-voting system is thus the easiest means because it saves time. Though it has its challenges, it reduces the cost of resources. More importantly, it is the best means of organising a free, fair and credible election.

“The e-voting is important because every research begins in the university. Since innovation starts from university, then where else could the e-voting have started from if not from here? The initiative introduced to the school by the engineering students is a welcome development concerning how elections are to be conducted in not just the school but in the country at large.”

Another student, Kabiawu Anuoluwapo, said, “The e-voting is a good development that Nigeria as a country should adopt. It will hinder any form of rigging if there is no manipulation of the computer programme or software.”

Also, another student, Olumide Oyatokun, said of the process, “It was stress-free. You did not have to queue for long just to vote. There was no snatching of ballot boxes.”