The Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike (MOUAU) has described as untrue a publication in the Sun newspaper web site that Prof Val Ekechukwu, had scored the highest point in the interview conducted by the Vice Chancellorship Selection Board to replace the outgoing Vice Chancellor, Prof Francis Otunta.

A Top management staff from the University who wants to remain anonymous said the report with the caption” MOUAU VC job: Prof Ekechukwu beats 29 other candidates” is false and should be disregarded by members of the public.

The source pointed out that
the contest for the next vice Chancellor of the University is still ongoing and is far from being concluded.

The source said,”How then can a winner emerge when a contest is not concluded?

“No contestant has access to his score, and Council has not decided. Hence the whole news is a trash of fake news and only good for the dust bin.

“The fact that the report failed to name who announced the winner of the contest and where the announcement was made proves that it cannot be relied upon.

“There were no students in Umudike on Thursday and there was no jubilation anywhere. Rather Abia Youths peacefully demonstrated against the non appointment of their professors to run any Nigerian Federal Universities in the last 15 to 20 years and demanded the appointment of one via the opportunity presented by the vacancy in MOUAU. A demand that has merit”.

The source urged members of public to disregard the story making the rounds and wait for announcement of final result of the contest by the University Council.