SU Elections: Pedram removed from SU Presidential Race
Written by Josh Suttill
Pedram Bani Asadi has been removed from the University of Leicester Students’ Union Presidential Elections due to “three separate, alleged breaches of the election regulations.”
The third-year law student was one of three students running to become the Students’ Union’s next president. He was also running to be elected as an NUS delegate for the second successive year.
The statement was released during Leicester Student Magazine’s live debate which interviewed the candidates running for President and Education Officer. Rhiannon Jenkins was the only Presidential candidate to accept the invitation while Pedram pulled out of the event earlier on Wednesday afternoon.
The University of Leicester’s SU released a statement on Wednesday evening confirming Pedram had been removed from the election.
“Following a number of complaints concerning a candidate participating in the University of Leicester Students’ Union Executive Elections 2021, we regret to inform students that Pedram Bani Asadi has been removed from the elections for President and NUS Delegate,” its statement read.
“Complaints regarding three separate, alleged breaches of the election regulations were referred to our Independent Returning Officer, as per the Union’s Election Regulations and Union By-Laws.
“Following a thorough review of the allegations and the evidence submitted by the complainants, the Independent Returning Officer ruled that the cumulative effect of the breaches gave them no choice but to remove Pedram Bani Asadi from the Presidential and NUS Delegate elections.”
The SU also confirmed that any student who has voted for Pedram in either category will have their vote transferred to their second preference candidate.
This leaves Rhiannon and Ghanshyam Nonghanvadra as the sole two remaining candidates running for SU President.
Current SU President Mia Nembhard urged students to refrain from speculation and remember that all of the individuals involved in the process are human beings.
“I’d ask anyone looking at this [the news] to take care when sharing and speculating,” she Tweeted. “Elections are always interesting but remember that candidates are people and online posts, however anonymous, can have real-life impacts on people.”
The SU also promised to provide support for any individual involved in the process including “former candidates.”
The SU declined to comment further, citing its “duty of care to all involved.”
LSM approached Pedram for comment, to which he simply responded “I’m just disappointed with the SU’s decision, I believe it was an unfair one.”
We will continue to keep students informed with election updates as and when they come.
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