INEC Declares Prison Inmate Serving Seven-Year Jail Term As Winner Of Enugu-South Rerun Election

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has officially declared Bright Ngene of the Labour Party (LP) as the winner of the rerun election for the Enugu South 1 State Constituency, despite his ongoing seven-year imprisonment. The announcement was made on Tuesday by Sam Olumekun, INEC’s National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee.

Ngene is currently serving a jail term handed down by the Enugu South Magistrate Court on July 28, 2024, related to a revived communal crisis case involving a N15 million community development fund. This matter had been dormant since 2017 but was relaunched amid the electoral process, leading to accusations of political motives behind his prosecution.

The rerun election had been plagued by multiple disruptions since the initial 2023 election was nullified in eight polling units, with the latest rerun finally conducted on August 16, 2025, after several failed attempts since February 2024. The election was marked by logistical challenges, including missing sensitive materials such as result sheets, which temporarily impeded the voting process.

Despite these hurdles, Bright Ngene won decisively, defeating his closest rival, Sam Ngene of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), by a margin of more than 3,000 votes. INEC has assured full compliance with the law and commitment to respecting the expressed will of the people.

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Certificates of Return for elected members will be presented soon, with National Assembly members receiving theirs on August 21, 2025, and State Assembly members on August 22, 2025.

This election marks the end of a prolonged period of uncertainty and intense political drama surrounding the Enugu South constituency, with the Labour Party insisting that Ngene’s imprisonment is part of a concerted effort to undermine their electoral success.

The Independent National Electoral Commission reaffirmed its dedication to transparency and accountability, pledging to keep the public informed of all developments as the political process moves forward.