By Abel Japheth Adavize
The Department of Mass Communication, Ahmadu Bello University, ABU, Zaria, has elected its first female President of the Mass Communication Students Association, MACOSA, in a keenly contested poll held on Saturday, September 5, 2026.
Ms Habi Mohammad Abubakar defeated Abdulganiyu Hanafi to emerge winner of the election organised by the Independent Electoral Committee, IELCOM, at the MACOSA Garden.
Voting began at 10:30 a.m. with students from 100 to 400 Level trooping to the venue to cast their votes.
A 300-Level student, Divine, described the atmosphere as lively.
“I personally love the vibes people brought with them today,” he said.
Another 300-Level student, Kefas, commended IELCOM for the conduct of the exercise.
“I strongly believe that this election was free and fair,” he said.
The presidential seat was contested by Habi and Hanafi, while other positions such as Secretary-General, Vice-President and Treasurer were unopposed.
Despite the rivalry between supporters of both candidates, the election was peaceful and ended without any reported incident.
Voting closed at 4:00 p.m. and IELCOM immediately commenced counting. A total of 310 votes were cast, including one invalid vote. Habi secured 197 votes to defeat Hanafi who polled 113 votes.
The declaration of results sparked celebrations at the MACOSA Garden as supporters of the winner jubilated.
Speaking after her victory, the President-elect said she was grateful for the trust reposed in her and conscious of the responsibility ahead.
“I’m incredibly grateful and excited, but more than anything, I feel a huge sense of responsibility. Being the first female president of MACOSA is an honour I don’t take lightly. I’m grateful to everyone who believed in me, supported me, and even challenged me along the way,” she said.
She said her administration would prioritise student welfare and representation, academic support and skills development, a stronger digital presence for MACOSA, and transparency, accountability and continuity.
On working with her opponent, the 20-year-old said:
“I have a lot of respect for my counterpart. He was someone who had the courage to put himself forward and compete for this office, and I believe that alone shows that he also cares about the growth and development of MACOSA,” she said.
“Although the election produced one winner, I don’t believe that means the other person has nothing to contribute. We may have had different approaches, ideas or visions, but ultimately, we were both seeking the same thing: a better MACOSA.”
Hanafi also accepted the result and pledged support for the new leadership.
“The election was good, and it’s a game of win or lose. Her winning was a win for me because we are both coursemates. Besides, I’m her class representative; I was already her leader before she became one. So, the election, to me, is a win for all,” he said.
The election of Ms Abubakar is considered historic, coming at a time when female students form a significant population in the department. It is also seen as an endorsement of female leadership within MACOSA.
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