December 14, (THEWILL) — The University of Uyo (UNIUYO), Akwa Ibom State, has been thrown into an unprecedented leadership crisis following allegations that its Governing Council refused to ratify the Senate’s recommendation for the appointment of an Acting Vice-Chancellor.
The crisis emerged after the tenure of the immediate past Vice-Chancellor, Professor Nyaudoh Ndaeyo, expired on November 30, 2025, leaving the 42-year-old federal institution without substantive leadership.
Findings by our reporter indicate that the vacuum has deepened tensions between the University Senate and the Governing Council, with senior academics accusing the council chairman, Dr Muiz Obanire, of frustrating established procedures for appointing an Acting Vice-Chancellor.
A member of the Senate, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the Senate acted proactively in line with directives from the Federal Ministry of Education and the National Universities Commission (NUC) to prevent a vacuum. According to him, the issue was deliberated at the Senate’s 138th meeting.
He explained that by long-standing university tradition and law, a Deputy Vice-Chancellor (DVC) is expected to assume office in an acting capacity whenever there is a leadership gap—provided the officer is not contesting the substantive Vice-Chancellor position.
“Believing that Professor Anthonia Essien, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic), had formally withdrawn from the race for the substantive Vice-Chancellorship on November 21, 2025, the Senate recommended her as Acting Vice-Chancellor”, the source said.
“The law clearly states that in the event of a vacancy, the Governing Council appoints based on the recommendation of the Senate. The Senate recommends, the Council ratifies. That is the system of checks and balances.”
However, the Senate source alleged that the recommendation was rejected by the chairman of the council without recourse to the Senate, a move he said triggered further complications.
He disclosed that the council chairman subsequently directed the Senate to conduct an election to nominate a candidate for Acting Vice-Chancellor. At the election, Professor Luke Eyo reportedly polled 39 votes, Professor Ibom Anondona secured four votes, while Professor Roseline Uyanga emerged with 102 votes and was recommended to the council.
Despite this, the Senate member lamented that the council chairman allegedly maintained what he described as a “unilateral posture,” even after a virtual Governing Council meeting held on December 9, 2025, thereby plunging the university into what he termed “governance paralysis.”
“The Council and the Senate are not supposed to be in competition. They are meant to complement each other for good governance of the university and in line with the university autonomy law”, he said.
Meanwhile, some senators who also spoke to the Tribune urged the Federal Government to intervene, alleging inefficiency, incompetence and corruption in the handling of the Vice-Chancellor selection process.
“The Governing Council has ignored all recommendations of the Senate on the appointment of an Acting VC and has thrown the institution into a leadership crisis. We call on the Federal Government to caution the Governing Council”, they said.
Reacting to the allegations, the Chairman of the Governing Council, Dr Muiz Obanire, dismissed them as frivolous.
In a text message to Tribune, Obanire said: “Have you seen a new Vice-Chancellor appointed as a result of a unilateral decision? That alone shows the frivolity of the allegation.”
He insisted that all council members had been fully involved in every decision taken so far. “Can you quote a single member of the Council who was not involved in decisions taken on all issues? To the best of my knowledge, all members have participated, and there are records and recordings of meetings. Remember, I am a lawyer”, he added.
As of the time of filing this report, the leadership vacuum persists, raising concerns among staff and stakeholders over the stability and governance of one of Nigeria’s foremost federal universities.
