The Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics, ASUP, has threatened to mobilise members from polytechnics and other tertiary institutions across the South-South and South-East for a peaceful protest in Yenagoa over the reappointment of Dr Wisdom Sori as Rector of Bayelsa State Polytechnic, Aleibiri.
The union is demanding the reversal of Sori’s reappointment, alleging that the institution’s Governing Council breached provisions of the Bayelsa State Polytechnic Establishment Law 2014 in the process.
ASUP’s position followed the commencement of an indefinite withdrawal of services by its Aleibiri chapter on August 10, after the expiration of a 14-day ultimatum issued to the authorities to reverse the appointment.
Speaking with journalists in Yenagoa on Tuesday, ASUP Zonal Coordinator for the South-South and South-East, Dr Richard Illoma, said the union had presented evidence of alleged procedural breaches to the state Commissioners for Education, Labour and Information.
Sori, a former rector of the institution, reportedly retired at 68 in February 2024. His first tenure as rector ended on June 19, 2026.
While the Governing Council cited Section 8 of the Bayelsa State Polytechnic Establishment Law, which provides for a renewable four-year tenure, ASUP argued that the procedure for his reappointment was not followed.
The union alleged that the council failed to advertise the position, constitute the required Search Team and establish the Joint Council and Academic Board Selection Board before recommending a candidate to Governor Douye Diri, the Visitor to the institution.
ASUP said the law requires the selection process to produce three candidates for consideration by the Visitor.
The union said the dispute was not about Sori’s performance, despite the council’s reference to achievements recorded during his previous tenure, including the relocation of the polytechnic to its permanent campus, TETFund projects and the accreditation of more than 10 programmes.
“Council fell short of the step-by-step procedures outlined in the Polytechnic Establishment Law on how a Rector can be appointed,” ASUP said.
The union also questioned the alleged backdating of Sori’s reappointment letter to June 21, 2026, claiming the move was designed to “erase the academic profile” of the Acting Rector.
ASUP further warned that retaining a retired rector could have implications for the institution’s dealings with regulatory and intervention agencies, including the National Board for Technical Education, Tertiary Education Trust Fund and Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board.
The union said several attempts to resolve the dispute had failed, including discussions involving a subcommittee set up to address the controversy.
With the talks ending in a deadlock, ASUP commenced its indefinite strike on August 10, disrupting academic activities at the polytechnic.
The union said it would escalate the matter if the reappointment was not reversed.
“The National Body of the Union will be constrained to use normative instruments at our disposal to swiftly mobilise our members from all the chapters in the zone, consisting of all polytechnics, monotechnics and colleges of technology in South-South and South-East Nigeria, for picketing and a peaceful protest in Yenagoa,” it said.
ASUP also threatened to petition relevant regulatory and intervention agencies, including TETFund, over possible implications for programme accreditation and access to intervention funds.
“For now, the strike subsists while further engagements with government continue,” the union said.
ASUP said it remained hopeful that Governor Diri would intervene after receiving the outcome of its engagement with the state commissioners.
Efforts to obtain the Governing Council’s response to the allegations were unsuccessful. Its representative, DIG Mike Zuokumor, said he could not comment immediately and asked for more time to respond.
