Hiplife icon Maradona Adjei Yeboah, popularly known as Guru NKZ, has made a return to the University of Ghana’s Student Representative Council (SRC) presidential race following a successful petition against his earlier disqualification.
Guru, who initially faced disqualification from the SRC presidential race, filed a formal petition challenging the decision made by the university’s SRC Electoral Commission. His disqualification was based on his non-resident status, a violation of Article 30 of the university’s constitution, which stipulates that presidential candidates must be campus residents and eligible to contest for a Junior Common Room (JCR) position within their hall of residence.
During the vetting process, Guru and his running mate, Jeffery Adu Yeboah, openly acknowledged that they were not residents of any hall. This admission led to their immediate disqualification by the SRC Electoral Commission. However, refusing to accept the decision, Guru’s legal team swiftly petitioned both the Electoral Commission and the Office of the Dean of Student Affairs, seeking a review of the ruling that barred him from the race.
In an effort to halt the election process and ensure that a fair hearing took place, Guru’s team also submitted an interim injunction to the university’s Judicial Board. The injunction sought to pause the ongoing SRC electoral activities until the matter could be properly reviewed and adjudicated.
Following the hearing, the appeals board of the University of Ghana reached a unanimous decision on September 15, 2024, to overturn the disqualification of Guru and his running mate. In a decisive 7-0 ruling, the appeals board concluded that Guru NKZ and Jeffery Adu Yeboah should be reinstated as eligible candidates in the SRC presidential race. The ruling also directed that their names be officially added to the list of vetted candidates for the presidential election.
With their reinstatement confirmed, the next key event in the election process is the balloting for positions on the presidential ballot. This event is scheduled to take place on Monday, September 16, and will include all candidates who were vetted by the committee.
The reinstatement of Guru NKZ, a prominent figure in the Ghanaian music industry, has sparked considerable interest in the University of Ghana’s upcoming SRC elections. Known for his influential contributions to Hiplife, Guru’s involvement in student politics is seen as a significant move, blending entertainment, leadership, and youth representation. Many students are eager to see how his presence in the race will shape the dynamics of the election.
As the election process moves forward, all eyes will be on the balloting event and the subsequent campaign activities, as Guru and his running mate prepare to compete for the SRC presidency.
