The outcome of the Enugu North by-election has come under renewed pressure after the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) and the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) rejected the conduct and results of the poll, alleging widespread electoral malpractice and violence. Leaders of both parties accused electoral officials and security agencies of failing to guarantee a free, fair, and transparent process, while demanding investigations into incidents reported across the senatorial district.
The National Vice Chairman (South-East) of the PRP, Peter Okafor, condemned the election, describing it as a serious setback for democratic governance.
Speaking to journalists in Nsukka after monitoring the exercise, Okafor alleged that the poll was characterised by violence, intimidation of voters, ballot box snatching, and other irregularities that undermined its credibility. According to him, the level of disorder witnessed during the election was alarming, particularly given that it was a senatorial by-election rather than a nationwide contest.
“I am surprised that in an ordinary senatorial by-election, there was so much thuggery, electoral violence, and the snatching of ballot boxes and electoral materials,” he said. Okafor further claimed that supporters of the party came under attack during the exercise. He alleged that one supporter was shot while another sustained serious injuries following an axe attack.
He also accused electoral and security personnel of failing to appear in some polling units, raising concerns about the integrity of the process. The PRP leader called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to either cancel the election or declare the party’s candidate, Charles Ugwuanyi, the rightful winner.
The Director-General of the PRP Campaign Organisation, Juliet Ugwuoke, echoed similar concerns and urged INEC to nullify the election. Ugwuoke said she monitored voting activities across all six local government areas within the senatorial district and observed what she described as widespread incidents of violence and disruption.
She further alleged that party agents were forced out of some polling units, preventing them from carrying out their responsibilities during the voting process. According to her, the reported incidents significantly compromised the credibility of the election and justified a fresh poll.
The senatorial candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, Bishop Oscar Ossai, also rejected the outcome of the election, citing numerous allegations of irregularities and electoral misconduct.
In a statement issued after consultations with party leaders, election agents, observers, stakeholders, and supporters, Ossai argued that the process failed to meet acceptable democratic standards. He maintained that reports gathered from across the district pointed to multiple breaches of electoral procedures.
Among the concerns raised were allegations that the Bi-modal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) was not used in some polling units and that accreditation procedures were bypassed in certain locations. The NDC candidate also alleged that discrepancies existed between results announced at polling units and figures recorded during collation.
Ossai further highlighted reports of vote-buying, voter inducement, unlawful thumb-printing of ballot papers, and manipulation of election materials. He alleged that voters and party supporters were subjected to intimidation and harassment, while some individuals reportedly sustained injuries during election-related disturbances.
“The cumulative effect of these reports raises serious questions about whether the declared outcome genuinely reflects the freely expressed will of the people of Enugu North Senatorial District,” he stated. While acknowledging that the allegations would require legal examination and verification, he argued that, if substantiated, they could have materially influenced both the credibility and final outcome of the election.
Ossai disclosed that his legal team had begun gathering evidence, including witness statements, polling unit records, documentary materials, and video footage for possible presentation before appropriate legal authorities. He also expressed sympathy to voters, party agents, and supporters who allegedly suffered harassment, violence, or injuries during the election.
The NDC candidate called on security agencies to launch a comprehensive investigation into all reported incidents and ensure that anyone found responsible for electoral offences is prosecuted in accordance with the law. As concerns continue to trail the Enugu North by-election, attention is expected to shift to electoral authorities, security agencies, and possible legal proceedings that could determine whether the allegations raised by opposition parties warrant further action.
