In 2014, he contested for the post of the Deputy ‎Vice-Chancellor, but lost to Fidelis Njokanma.‎ The Vice-Chancellor of the institution, Olanrewaju Fagbohun, however, confirmed the demotion in a telephone interview with the News Agency of Nigeria in Lagos. Mr. Fagbohun said the demotion of the lecturer was a decision taken by the governing council, adding that the university management had implemented it. The university’s governing council decision followed a petition against the lecturer by the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ‎ASUU, LASU chapter. The union had petitioned the governing council, headed by Adebayo Ninolowo, alleging that the former Vice-Chancellor, John Obafunwa, promoted the lecturer without due process. A five-member panel‎ was consequently set up to investigate the allegations levelled against the lecturer. Some concerned members of staff of the ‎university had also lodged complaints that Mr. Abanikannda was not qualified to‎ be a professor, but was promoted by Mr. Obafunwa. The panel, after several meetings and investigations, recommended the demotion of the lecturer. It was gathered that the council also reprimanded the former vice-chancellor and the current ‎registrar, Akinwunmi Lewis, for taking certain decisions contrary to the laid down rules and regulations ‎of the university. (NAN)]]>