…Opposition Cries Foul
By Alumona Ukwueze
NSUKKA — The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Sunday declared Ikeje Asogwa of the All Progressives Congress (APC) winner of the Enugu North Senatorial District by-election held on Saturday in Enugu State.
The declaration came amid allegations of electoral irregularities, violence and voter intimidation by opposition parties, which have threatened legal action.
Announcing the result, the Returning Officer, Professor Christian Ezeibe of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), said Asogwa polled 162,360 votes to defeat the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Nestor Ezeme, who secured 9,299 votes.
According to the results released by INEC, Ossai Okwudili of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) came third with 3,129 votes. Chika Idoko of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) polled 1,676 votes, while Labour Party candidate Ejike Eze secured 1,027 votes.
The Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) candidate, Charles Ugwuanyi, garnered 667 votes, while the Boot Party candidate polled 416 votes.
In his acceptance speech, Asogwa thanked the people of Enugu North Senatorial District for their trust and confidence in electing him to represent them in the Senate.
He also expressed appreciation to Governor Peter Mbah, whom he credited for providing leadership and support that contributed to the party’s victory.
Asogwa further thanked the Deputy Governor, party leaders, traditional rulers, religious leaders, youth and women groups, security agencies, electoral officials, media practitioners and supporters for their contributions to the success of the campaign.
However, opposition parties rejected the outcome of the election.
Reacting to an alleged ballot-snatching incident at Ogwu/Umuodu Polling Unit in Obollo Afor, Udenu Local Government Area, PDP candidate Nestor Ezeme accused the APC of orchestrating violence and voter suppression.
Describing the exercise as a “charade” and a “rape of democracy,” Ezeme alleged that armed thugs disrupted voting, fired gunshots, dispersed voters and carted away electoral materials.
Similarly, the National Vice Chairman (South-East) of the PRP, Peter Okafor, called on INEC to cancel the election over what he described as widespread violence, ballot box snatching and intimidation of voters.
“I am surprised that in an ordinary senatorial by-election, there were incidents of thuggery, electoral violence and snatching of electoral materials. Some of our supporters were attacked, while in some polling units there were no INEC officials or security personnel,” he alleged.
The Director-General of the PRP Campaign Organisation, Juliet Ugwuja, also demanded the cancellation of the election, claiming that party agents were chased out of some polling units.
She said the party would challenge the outcome in court if its grievances were not addressed.
On the other hand, APC leaders in Udenu and Igbo-Eze North Local Government Areas, Dr. Innocent Ezeoha and Onyekachi Simon, described the election as free, fair and credible.
They said the party effectively mobilised voters and expressed confidence that Asogwa would provide quality representation for the district in the Senate.
Meanwhile, reports from parts of the district indicated that violence marred the election in some locations.
A voter, Sunday Ofoma, was reportedly shot, while another resident, Sunday Ugwuja, sustained severe injuries after allegedly being attacked with an axe in Obukpa, Nsukka Local Government Area, while attempting to vote.
Two journalists — Chinazom Amadi of Dega Voice Newspaper and Uche Okwuanyionu of Lion FM, UNN — were also reportedly arrested by security operatives while covering the election but were later released.
The by-election was conducted to fill the vacant Enugu North Senatorial District seat. Opposition parties have vowed to seek legal redress over the conduct and outcome of the poll.
