Enugu South by-election faces chaotic delay as protests and confusion stall the vote, raising questions about fairness and political interference

Enugu South by-election began amid confusion and tension as voters at Uwani Secondary School remained stranded past 1 p.m. on Saturday, August 16. A large turnout clashed with delays, raising serious concerns about the integrity of the process.

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Women protesting at the venue accused politicians of undue interference, demanding that Labour Party candidate Bright Ngene be disqualified due to a previous conviction.

Ngene had been sentenced in July 2024 to seven years for a N15 million community development fund scandal.

Speaking to reporters, Peoples Democratic Party candidate Sam Ngene criticized the delays and alleged that high-profile figures such as Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology Uche Nnaji and Senator Kelvin Chukwu disrupted the process.

“The person I am contesting with is behind bars. The constitution is clear: a convict cannot stand in an election,” he said.

Minister Nnaji defended his presence, insisting he acted in his capacity as the APC leader in Enugu State. “I have a right to be here because I am the leader of my party in the state,” he stated.

Labour Party Chairman in Enugu South, Chinwuba Ngwu, voiced frustration over the lack of progress. “We came here for election. We have been here since 7 o’clock; till now there has not been any information from INEC,” he said.

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As of press time, the Independent National Electoral Commission had not issued an official statement. Voters, meanwhile, continue to wait, and political tensions show no signs of easing.