The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has called off the Enugu South I state constituency’s rerun election, originally rescheduled after a disputed outcome, due to security concerns that necessitated the move to prevent any potential harm to voters and staff.
INEC’s resident electoral commissioner in Enugu, Chukwuemeka Chukwu, said in Enugu on Sunday that the postponed election was cancelled earlier last week due to security considerations.
Mr Chukwu disclosed that the rerun election, which was fixed after stakeholders’ engagements to be held on June 8, would be held on a further date to be communicated by the commission.
“Last week, the scheduled rerun election was postponed and duly communicated to all stakeholders with a clear reason for the postponement.
“But I am surprised some misguided people are taking up all sorts of unfounded falsehood and rumours against the commission that it seems the election had been held in secret even as I am speaking to you,” he said.
Bright Ngene, the Labour Party candidate for the House of Assembly, was declared the winner of the March 18, 2023 election and sworn in, but the tribunal nullified the election because it was inconclusive.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is refusing to be deterred, embarking on its third attempt to successfully conduct the election and uphold the democratic mandate.
Read also: 2023: Real Reason INEC Servers Failed To Work — Peter Obi
As early as 7:00 a.m. Saturday, eager voters flocked to the designated polling units, but their enthusiasm was met with disappointment – no INEC officials were in sight.
Onlooker Mr. Ngene was visibly disheartened as he witnessed the chaos unfold at the polling centre, his disappointment palpable in the face of the electoral disarray.
He confided in journalists that he and his party were utterly blindsided by the election’s abrupt cancellation, having received no intel or warning signs that the vote wouldn’t proceed as planned.
Sam Ngene, the Peoples Democratic Party’s candidate, offered a differing account, alleging that his party had been properly notified of the postponement, raising questions about the extent of the communication breakdown.
