The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has condemned the University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT) over its dissolution of Students' Union Government activities, describing the action as a violation of students' democratic rights. National President of NANS, Babatunde Akinteye, disclosed the association's position in a statement issued on Monday.

Management of UNIPORT had earlier dissolved all Students' Union Government activities in the Institution with immediate effect, directing elected student leaders to relinquish union property and appear before an investigative panel to account for their stewardship. The directive was contained in a memorandum signed by the Dean of Student Affairs, Prof. Geoffrey Woke, on the instruction of the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Princewill Chike, and dated 19th July. It announced the dissolution of the three arms of the Students' Union, Hall Representatives, and all other union related activities. The memo read in part, "I am directed by the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Princewill Chike, to notify the three arms of the Students' Union that they have been dissolved with immediate effect until further notice."

Executive members of the union were ordered to hand over union property, official documents, financial records, keys, identification materials and other items belonging to the union to the Office of the Dean of Student Affairs. Affected leaders are expected to appear before an investigative panel whenever invited, with the Institution warning that failure to comply would attract disciplinary sanctions. The reasons for the dissolution and the specific issues under investigation were not disclosed.

Akinteye maintained that while university authorities had the right to investigate allegations against student leaders, due process must be followed. He stated, "Dissolving a democratically elected union without due process, transparency and fair hearing amounts to an abuse of administrative powers." He argued that affected officials should first be informed of the allegations against them and allowed to defend themselves, and questioned the sequence requiring leaders to surrender records before appearing before the panel.

The NANS President called for the dissolution order to be suspended and for an impartial panel to be constituted, noting that the association was not opposed to accountability but warned against using it to suppress legitimate student representation. He disclosed that NANS had commenced consultations with stakeholders and would pursue lawful means to protect students' rights.