The upcoming rerun election in Enugu South Urban State Constituency will witness a fierce contest between Emeka Ngene of the Labour Party (LP) and Sam Ngene of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). The Court of Appeal ordered the rerun due to irregularities, setting the stage for a high-stakes political showdown.
Emeka Ngene, the current member of the State House of Assembly, had been declared the winner with 5,862 votes in the March 18, 2023 election by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). However, following the court’s decision, Sam Ngene, also known as Anointed David, is now vying for the seat and has been actively campaigning in the Uwani area of Enugu where the ward in contention is located.
The rerun, involving 4,618 eligible voters in one registration area and eight polling units, is scheduled to take place between 8:00 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. on Saturday. INEC has assured the deployment of technological devices such as the Bimodal Voters Accreditation System (BVAS) and the INEC Election Result Viewing Portal (IReV) to ensure a transparent electoral process.
Speaking on the preparations, Rex Achumie, the Head of INEC’s Voters Education and Publicity Department, emphasized that all rules and regulations for a regular election will be strictly observed during the rerun to guarantee a free, fair, and credible electoral exercise. INEC’s Resident Electoral Commissioner in Enugu State, Dr. Chukwuemeka Chukwu, has reportedly made comprehensive arrangements to ensure the smooth conduct of the rerun.
Both candidates have been engaging in extensive door-to-door campaigns to secure the support of the electorate. Sam Ngene expressed his proactive approach, stating, “I have fully mobilized for a door-to-door and one-on-one campaign with my people, which I have been running for weeks now.” However, Emeka Ngene was not available for comment despite several attempts to reach him.
As the Enugu South rerun election draws near, all eyes are on the intense battle for political supremacy, and the outcome of this electoral contest is poised to shape the future landscape of the constituency.
