By Olatunbosun Obafemi
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has declared Bright Emeka Ngene of the Labour Party (LP) winner of the Enugu South Urban Constituency rerun election, even though the candidate is currently serving a seven-year jail term.
The rerun, held on 16 August 2025, was the fourth attempt to conduct the court-ordered exercise after the nullification of the 2023 election in eight polling units. The poll had repeatedly faced disruptions, beginning in February 2024, with incidents of violence, thuggery, and logistical lapses delaying its conclusion.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, INEC’s spokesperson, Sam Olumekun, confirmed that Ngene secured the highest number of votes to defeat his closest rival, Sam Ngene of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). “For the Enugu South 1 State Constituency of Enugu State, Ngene Bright Emeka of the Labour Party (LP) was declared the winner,” Olumekun said. He added that Certificates of Return would be issued to successful candidates in Abuja and state offices between 21 and 22 August.
Ngene’s declaration, however, comes amid his ongoing incarceration at the Enugu State Correctional Centre. He was convicted on 28 July 2024 by an Enugu South Magistrate Court and handed a seven-year sentence over a communal dispute in his Akwuke community. The case, first filed in 2017 and later referred to Alternative Dispute Resolution, was revived shortly after his initial election victory in March 2023.
Observers have described the timing of his conviction as politically motivated, noting that Ngene continued to win subsequent reruns despite mounting legal troubles. His victories were consistently annulled until the August rerun, which INEC finally upheld.
The development raises serious questions about representation, as the LP candidate remains behind bars. While his supporters hail the victory as proof of his popularity, critics argue it exposes flaws in the country’s legal and electoral systems. Whether Ngene will be able to assume his seat in the Enugu State House of Assembly remains uncertain, but his case has already sparked fresh debate over the intersection of politics, law, and justice in Nigeria’s democracy.
