Although the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) set up polling booths and deployed election materials, no ballot was cast as of 3:20pm.
The much-anticipated Enugu South Urban Constituency by-election on Saturday collapsed for the fourth time, despite a heavy turnout of voters who thronged the designated polling venue at Uwani Secondary School as early as 7am.
Although the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) set up polling booths and deployed election materials, no ballot was cast as of 3:20pm.
Officials eventually packed up and shut down the unit, citing the absence of sensitive materials such as result sheets.
The stalled exercise quickly descended into chaos as a group of women staged a protest, alleging political interference and demanding the disqualification of the Labour Party (LP) candidate.
They cited his July 2024 conviction by an Enugu South Magistrates’ Court, which sentenced him to seven years in prison over a N15million community development fund scandal.
The judgment, however, is still under appeal.
The Enugu State Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Dr. Chukwuemeka Chukwu, condemned the repeated disruptions and pleaded with political actors to allow the process to run its course.
“This is the fourth time this by-election has been attempted without success. I am pleading with all stakeholders to behave responsibly and allow us to conclude this process. The people of Enugu deserve a fair election,” he told journalists.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Sam Ngene, who has consistently challenged the LP candidate’s eligibility, expressed frustration.
He accused “powerful figures” of deliberately frustrating the exercise.
“If you look properly, there is strong mobilisation for this election. The problem is the infiltration of influential figures like the Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Uche Nnaji, and Senator Kevil Chukwu, who are interfering with the process. My opponent is behind bars. The constitution is clear: a convict cannot contest an election,” Ngene fumed.
The minister, Uche Nnaji, however, defended his presence at the polling ground, insisting he was acting as the leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Enugu State.
“I have a right to be here because I am the leader of my party in the state,” he declared.
“The PDP cannot win this elecion. If the election is not concluded today, we will stay here until it is.”
The Labour Party also cried foul, with Enugu South LP Chairman, Chinwuba Ngwu, describing the situation as a deliberate plot to disenfranchise voters.
“We have been here since 7am. There is no accreditation, no voting, and no information from INEC. We are in the dark,” he lamented.
The Enugu South urban constituency seat has remained vacant since the State Assembly Election Petition Tribunal nullified the March 18, 2023, election and ordered a rerun in eight polling units with 4618 registered voters.
In that disputed election, LP candidate, Bright Ngene, was declared winner with 5862 votes, defeating PDP’s Sam Ngene by over 2000 votes.
But the tribunal’s ruling threw the constituency into a prolonged electoral limbo.
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