- Safiu Kehinde
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has declared Labour Party’s candidate, Bright Ngene, as the winner of the rerun election held in Enugu South 1 State Constituency despite currently serving seven years jail term.
INEC in a statement issued on Tuesday by its National Commissioner and Chairman of Information and Voter Education Committee, Sam Olumekun, declared Ngene the winner of the rerun election.
This brought an end to the prolonged crisis that had trailed multiple failed attempts to conduct the court-ordered poll.
However, Ngene’s declaration had raised public eyebrow as he is currently remanded at the Enugu prison on the order of the Enugu Magistrate Court over a communal crisis reportedly hijacked by the state government.
Ngene was sentenced to seven years imprisonment by the Enugu South Magistrates’ Court, presided over by E. D. Onwu, on the 28th of July 2024.
He had been arraigned in 2017 alongside two others by the Enugu State Police Command over a N15 million community development fund scandal.
Meanwhile, effort to conduct the rerun election at the Enugu South Urban Constituency after the 2023 election was nullified in eight polling units, had faced repeated stumbling blocks with last week’s election marking the fourth attempt the court-ordered exercise was to happen.
INEC however confirmed that Ngene secured the highest number of votes at the, defeating his closest rival, Sam Ngene of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), by a margin of over 3,000 votes.
“Two re-run elections by order of the Election Petition Appeal Tribunals were held in Enugu and Kano States.
“After previous disruptions of the elections in the two states by violence and thuggery, the elections have now been concluded. Declaration and return were made by the Returning Officers.
“For the Enugu South 1 State Constituency of Enugu State, Ngene Bright Emeka of the Labour Party (LP) was declared the winner.” The Commission said.
It further confirmed that the Ngene will be issued Certificates of Return like other winners of the by-elections and rerun elections.
The statement partly read: “In compliance with the provision of Section 72(1) of the Electoral Act 2022, Certificates of Return will be presented to the Senators-elect for Anambra South and Edo Central Senatorial Districts as well as the five members of House of Representatives-elect for Ovie North East and Ovie South West Federal Constituency of Edo State, Babura/Garki Federal Constituency of Jigawa State, Chikun/Kajuru Federal Constituency of Kaduna State, Ikenne/Shagamu/Remo North Federal Constituency of Ogun State and Ibadan North Federal Constituency of Oyo State.
“The occasion will take place at the INEC National Headquarters in Abuja on Thursday 21st August 2025 at 3.00pm.
“For State Houses of Assembly, the Certificates of Return will be presented to members-elect by the Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) in our State offices on Friday 22nd August 2025 at 11.00am.
“The constituencies are Ganye State Constituency of Adamawa State, Onitsha North 1 State Constituency of Anambra State, Basawa and Zaria/Kewaye State Constituencies of Kaduna State, Bagwai/Shanono and Ghari/Tsanyawa State constituencies of Kano State, Okura State Constituency of Kogi State, Munya State Constituency of Niger State, and Karim Lamido 1 State Constituency of Taraba State.
“As always, the public will continuously be informed on all the activities of the Commission.”