The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has declared Labour Party candidate, Barrister Bright Emeka Ngene, winner of the keenly contested Enugu South State Constituency rerun election, bringing to an end years of electoral controversy in the area.
Ngene, who is currently serving a seven-year prison sentence over an old fraud conviction, secured victory with a margin of more than 3,000 votes, defeating his closest rivals from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The rerun had faced multiple postponements due to violence and logistical setbacks, raising questions about INEC’s capacity to manage local elections. However, with this declaration, INEC confirmed that certificates of return would be issued to winners on Thursday, in accordance with Section 72(1) of the Electoral Act.
Political observers argue that Ngene’s victory, despite his imprisonment, reflects both the popularity of the Labour Party in Enugu and the complexity of Nigeria’s legal framework, which permits candidates facing conviction to remain on the ballot until appeals are fully exhausted.
