Protest disrupts Enugu South urban House of Assembly by-election.

On Saturday, August 16, 2025, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) attempted to conduct a court-ordered re-run election for the Enugu South Urban State Constituency—a seat vacated after the March 18, 2023 election was nullified .

By early afternoon (~2:30–3:20 p.m.), hundreds of voters had gathered—especially at Uwani Secondary School—but voting had not begun, largely due to protests and delays .

Protesters, including women and supporters from different parties, accused politicians of undue interference, pointed to the non-availability of result sheets, and demanded clarity over whether the exercise was legally valid .

The INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner, Dr. Chukwuemeka Chukwu, confirmed materials and personnel had been deployed early, but protests impeded the process. He appealed to stakeholders to let INEC carry out its duty .

The interruption marked the fourth failed attempt at conducting this by-election—previous stalled attempts had occurred in February, June 2024, and again earlier in 2025 .

PDP candidate Sam Ngene expressed concern over the fairness of the process and alleged intimidation. LP Chairman Chinwuba Ngwu also lamented the lack of communication from INEC despite being present since early morning .

Uche Nnaji, Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology (also acting as APC party leader), defended his presence as a peace-monitoring role, asserting he was there to ensure voters could exercise their rights .

Background to the Election

The Tribunal nullified Bright Ngene’s (LP) 2023 victory and ordered a re-run within 90 days, citing discrepancies in votes versus disenfranchised voters .

Bright Ngene, however, was convicted in June 2024 for offences involving dishonesty and fraud—receiving a seven-year jail sentence—which under the 1999 Nigerian Constitution, automatically disqualifies him from contesting unless pardoned .

The PDP has formally petitioned INEC, arguing that fielding a convicted candidate is unconstitutional and urging them to declare Sam Ngene the winner in absence of a valid opponent .

Additionally, legal challenges are ongoing. A Federal High Court case (Suit No: FHC/EN/CS/144/2024) questions the legality of proceeding with the by-election while judicial proceedings are pending .

INEC will likely assess the situation and announce next steps—which may include rescheduling the vote or addressing the legal hurdles .

The constitutional validity of Bright Ngene’s candidacy remains in question, and judicial review may ultimately decide whether the re-run proceeds at all.

Political tensions remain high—transparency, legal clarity, and fair process are critical to restoring public confidence.