The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced that the rescheduled rerun election for the Enugu South I state constituency has been postponed due to security concerns.
Chukwuemeka Chukwu, INEC’s resident electoral commissioner in Enugu, revealed on Sunday that the initially canceled election was postponed last week owing to security considerations.
Chukwu further revealed that the rerun election, initially slated for June 8 following consultations with stakeholders, will now be rescheduled for a future date to be communicated by the commission.
“In the past week, the rescheduled rerun election was postponed, and a detailed explanation for the delay was communicated to all relevant parties.
“However, I am taken aback by baseless accusations and rumors being spread about the commission, insinuating that the election has been conducted in secret even as I address you,” he stated.
Bright Ngene, the Labour Party candidate for the House of Assembly, was declared the victor of the March 18, 2023 election and sworn in, but the tribunal invalidated the results due to inconclusiveness.
This marks the third attempt by INEC to conduct the election.
Voters gathered at the designated polling units as early as 7:00 a.m. on Saturday, yet no INEC officials were present at the location.
Mr. Ngene, present at the polling center, expressed disappointment at the turn of events.
He informed reporters that neither he nor his party had received any prior notice regarding the cancellation of the election.
On the other hand, Sam Ngene, the Peoples Democratic Party candidate, acknowledged that his party had been duly informed about the postponement.
