By our reporter
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has declared Bright Ngene, candidate of the Labour Party (LP), as the duly elected member of the Enugu South Urban Constituency in the Enugu State House of Assembly, following last weekend’s rerun election.
The announcement was made on Tuesday, August 19, 2025, in a statement signed by INEC’s National Commissioner and Chairman of its Information and Voter Education Committee, Sam Olumekun. According to the electoral body, Ngene polled the highest number of votes to defeat his closest challenger, Sam Ngene of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), in what was the fourth rerun since the initial election was nullified.
The rerun, conducted across eight polling units on Saturday, August 16, was part of efforts to resolve long-standing disputes surrounding the constituency’s legislative seat. The declaration finally brings closure to a prolonged electoral battle in Enugu South.
However, the victory comes amid controversy. Bright Ngene is currently serving a seven-year jail term, having been convicted in July 2024 by a magistrate court in Enugu South over a communal dispute in his Akwuke community. Despite his incarceration, the Labour Party candidate’s name remained on the ballot, and he garnered overwhelming support from voters who still view him as their preferred representative.
INEC has announced that Certificates of Return will be issued to all winners of the recent rerun elections. For State House of Assembly members like Ngene, certificates will be presented on Friday, August 22, 2025, at the respective state INEC offices.
Ngene’s victory adds to the growing influence of the Labour Party in Enugu politics, where the party has continued to challenge the long-standing dominance of the PDP. His win also raises fresh constitutional and legal debates about the eligibility of candidates serving prison terms to hold elective office.
With this declaration, the political spotlight now shifts to what happens next whether Bright Ngene can legally assume his legislative duties from prison, or if his situation will trigger fresh legal battles that could once again test Nigeria’s electoral and judicial systems.
