No fewer than 13 professors from different departments are vying for the vice chancellorship of the University of Ibadan which becomes vacant in November.

The incumbent vice chancellor, Professor Isaac Folorinso Adewole is expected to leave the office in November after completing his term in office.

Speaking at the University of Ibadan Community Forum Interactive session for Vice Chancellorship Aspirants, held at the Trenchard hall, University of Ibadan, human right activist, Barrister Femi Falana (SAN), appealed to those jostling for the vice chancellorship of the University of Ibadan to consider independent student unionism and fund as their main priority.

The Senior Advocate of Nigeria disclosed that the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria has no provision for mace as a symbol of authority in the National Assembly.

Falana, who was the moderator of the event chaired by Professor Ibidapo Obe who represented Are Afe Babalola, appealed to the aspirants to consider independent student unionism and fund as their main priority as requested by the audience.

The issue became the common features as raised by the audience to all the aspirants. The development, then easily gave the human right activist an opportunity to lecture the gathering on future democracy.

"In the area of students unionism, I'm going to appeal to this university administration or whoever who is taking over from the current Vice-Chancellor to consider what is going on in Abuja, particularly the last outing by House of Representative members when they were fighting aimlessly and meaninglessly over the mace,” he said.

All the 13 Professors vying for the post of the vice-chancellor attended the programme except the former deputy vice chancellor, Professor Arinola Sanya.

The event chaired by Professor Ibidapo Obe who represented Are Afe Babalola,.

"Mind you, I think there are Law professors here, in the entire constitution of Nigeria, there are 320 sections, nowhere is mace mentioned. It's part of the old parliamentary system. What the constitution says is that House of Reps shall meet or convene once it forms a quorum. In a quorum is one-third of the membership.

“You cannot go to court and say because there was no mace, the House of Rep or Senate is illegally constituted.

"The point I'm making is this, if you do not allow students and our children to practice democracy in the true sense of the world, they will end up in the national assembly boxing themselves," he said.

He however congratulated the University of Ibadan for the "innovative process in selecting your vice chancellor."

Earlier, the chairman of the Forum, Professor Nelson Fashina said "it has become morally compelling that a would be vice-chancellor will have to communicate with the community to move the university forward."

All aspirants were given 10 minutes to highlight their plan for the university.