For the third time on Saturday, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) postponed the Enugu South Urban re-run election indefinitely, thereby creating an uneasy calm in the state’s polity.
As early as 7 am on Saturday, voters had clustered in the affected polling units in Enugu South, but no official of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) showed up. INEC had last week rescheduled the election for June 8 for the affected eight polling booths.
The Labour Party (LP) Candidate for the election, Bright Ngene, who was at the polling centre, expressed sadness over the development.
He said there was no information available to him and his party that the election would not be held.
Ngene, who said rumours were flying that the election had been postponed, cautioned that INEC was a creation of the constitution and should act in accordance with the laws.
He said the postponement of an election should follow due process, and parties should be communicated with.
However, when called, the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in charge of Enugu State, Chukwuemeka Chukwu, confirmed that the election had been postponed.
“We have cancelled the exercise, that was on Wednesday. We made a press release to inform them that it would not hold,” he said.
Asked whether a new date has been fixed, he answered, “No date yet; we hope that the commission will come up with a date anytime soon.”
The REC in charge of Anambra State was drafted to conduct the election the last time following the suspension of the Enugu REC.
However, midway into voting, some thugs stormed the voting areas and destroyed voting materials. Sequel to this, the re-run election was rescheduled for Saturday, June 8, 2024.
Contacted, the LP Chairman in Enugu State, Casimir Agbo, declined comment.
“Go and ask INEC, direct your question to INEC. I decline to comment,” he said.
On his part, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Candidate for the election, Sam Ngene, said the postponement of the exercise was duly communicated to his party.
Checks showed that the Saturday, June 8 postponement of the rerun is the third time the electoral body is putting it on hold.
It would be recalled that the LP Candidate for the State House of Assembly Constituency, Bright Ngene, was declared the winner of the March 18, 2023, House of Assembly election and was sworn in, but the election was nullified by the court for being inconclusive.
