The Federal Ministry of Education has been urged to suspend the ongoing process for appointing a new Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University, Wukari, Taraba State, following allegations of political interference.

A petition submitted to the ministry accused Taraba State Governor, Agbu Kefas, of attempting to influence the selection process in favour of his brother, Dr. Benjamin Kefas. The petition was signed by the group’s National Coordinator, Comrade Bulus Zakari.

According to the petitioners, the governor is allegedly working behind the scenes to ensure his brother emerges as the next Vice-Chancellor, despite claims that he does not meet the statutory academic requirements for the position. They argued that there is no evidence showing that Dr. Benjamin Kefas has attained the rank of full professor within the university system, which is a key qualification for the office.

The group examined his academic background, noting that he holds a Bachelor of Pharmacy, Master’s degree, and PhD, obtained from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, and Vrije University, Brussels, Belgium. While acknowledging his credentials as a research scientist, educator, and writer, the petitioners stressed that these qualifications alone do not satisfy the requirements for appointment as Vice-Chancellor of a federal university.

They stated that although Dr. Kefas has served as an Assistant Professor of Neuro-oncology at the University of Virginia and possesses experience in research, teaching, and project management, there is no record of him holding senior academic leadership positions such as Head of Department, Dean, or Director.

The petitioners maintained that their concerns are not personal but are rooted in the need to protect transparency, merit, and due process in the appointment of principal officers of federal universities. They emphasized that the Vice-Chancellor position requires a minimum of 10 years’ experience at the rank of professor, proven integrity, and strong administrative capacity, as stipulated in federal regulations.

The group further alleged that the selection process had been compromised, claiming that out of about 40 applicants, only four were shortlisted, with three reportedly from Taraba State and one from Adamawa State—an outcome they said raises serious questions about fairness and transparency.

Calling for urgent intervention, the petitioners appealed to the Federal Government to prevent what they described as a looming industrial crisis at the university. They urged the Federal Ministry of Education to conduct an independent review of the screening and selection process to ensure compliance with the Universities Autonomy Act and related guidelines.

The group also asked the ministry to verify that all shortlisted candidates meet the required academic and administrative qualifications, ensure the independence of the university’s governing council, and reassure staff, students, and stakeholders that merit and due process will ultimately determine the appointment of the next Vice-Chancellor.