The Benin Development Union (BDU), a socio-cultural organization in Edo State, has condemned attempts to derail the process of appointing a new vice-chancellor for the University of Benin by raising ethnic concerns.

According to BDU, due process and merit, rather than ethnicity, should guide the selection of the institution’s next leader.

BDU’s response followed allegations from the Benin United Front (BUF), which accused the outgoing vice-chancellor, Prof. Lillian Salami, of attempting to manipulate the process to prevent candidates of Bini extraction from emerging. In a statement signed by its Director of Publicity, Dr. Franklin Ikuobase, BDU described BUF’s claims as a “desperate outburst” intended to incite ethnic tension over an academic decision that should remain impartial.

The organization emphasized that the selection of a vice-chancellor should focus on qualifications and fairness, not ethnicity. BDU also criticized those introducing ethnic bias into the discussion, accusing them of unjustly attacking Prof. Salami to undermine a transparent and fair appointment process.