LAGOS, Nigeria(VOICE OF NAIJA)-For the fourth time, voting in the Enugu South Urban Constituency rerun election failed to commence due to protests, allegations of voter intimidation, and political chaos.
However, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), has promised to review the situation and find a lasting solution.
What was meant to be a decisive rerun election for the Enugu South Urban State Constituency on Saturday once again ended in political paralysis and a growing sense of electoral fatigue.
Despite deploying staff and materials by 7 a.m., INEC could not commence the rerun exercise scheduled for 8 a.m. in what has become a recurring crisis in the constituency since the 2023 general elections.
INEC’s Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Enugu State, Chukwuemeka Chukwu, expressed frustration over the repeated disruptions.
“People are not voting because some groups are carrying placards, while others who are not supposed to be here have invaded the polling area. This is the fourth time we are here for this rerun, and it is abnormal. We are pleading that they should allow us to perform our statutory functions and let the electorate vote,” Chukwu stated.
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The tension escalated into a heated political standoff as leaders of rival parties traded blame for the electoral impasse.
The Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology and a key figure in the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Enugu State, Uche Nnaji, accused the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), of instigating violence to derail the process.
Speaking as an APC agent at one of the polling units, Nnaji said, “You can see there are many hoodlums from PDP trying to scare people from voting. We don’t want chaos because they would capitalize on that to insist that the election should not hold. If they don’t finish today, we will stay here until tomorrow.”
But PDP candidate Sam Ngene, rejected the claims, instead accusing Nnaji of personally intimidating voters by arriving with a large crowd of supporters.
“This is my ward and my strong base. But the minister is here with mammoth youths to intimidate voters. Many of my supporters are scared. Besides, the candidate meant to contest against me is serving a jail term. Allowing such a person on the ballot is a constitutional breach, and INEC must act,” he countered.
Also weighing in, the Labour Party (LP) chairman for Enugu South Local Government Area, Hon. Chinweuba Ngwu, criticized INEC’s failure to communicate with stakeholders and voters.
“Since 7 a.m. when we arrived, no accreditation has taken place. INEC officials should brief us on what is happening and where we are headed,” Ngwu said.
The repeated failure to hold the rerun leaves Enugu South Urban without representation in the Enugu State House of Assembly, over two years after the 2023 elections.
As of press time, INEC has not announced a new date for the rerun, only stating that the situation will be reviewed before a decision is made.
With rising political tension and deepening voter disillusionment, the ongoing rerun saga in Enugu South underscores a broader crisis in Nigeria’s electoral landscape.
As the nation looks to INEC for answers, the constituency remains caught in a cycle of uncertainty, and still without a voice in state legislation.