Protests, Missing Materials Stall Enugu South By-Election Again

The Enugu South Urban Constituency by-election on Saturday was marred by protests, logistical failures, and political tension, leaving the exercise inconclusive for the fourth time.

Despite a large voter turnout at the designated polling venue, Uwani Secondary School, no ballot was cast as of 3:20 p.m.

Officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) eventually closed the polling unit and packed up, citing the absence of critical election materials, including result sheets.

The setback sparked outrage among voters, particularly a group of women who staged a protest at the venue.

The protesters accused politicians of interfering with the process and demanded the disqualification of the Labour Party’s candidate.

They alleged that the candidate had been convicted in July 2024 by an Enugu South Magistrates’ Court, which sentenced him to seven years’ imprisonment over a ₦15 million community development fund scandal. The case, however, remains under appeal.

Enugu State Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Dr. Chukwuemeka Chukwu, expressed deep concern over the repeated collapse of the by-election.

“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 said.

The candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Sam Ngene, also voiced frustration, attributing the stalled exercise to disruptions allegedly caused by the presence of “high-profile officials” at the venue.

The by-election, which has faced multiple postponements since its initial scheduling, continues to raise questions about the credibility of the electoral process in Enugu South and the role of political influence in local contests.