Intimidation, bare-faced vote buying, ballot box snatching and other forms of political violence took centre stage during June 20 senatorial bye-election held in Enugu North senatorial district of Enugu state.
The election which took place in six local government areas of the state; Nsukka, Udenu, Igbo-Eze South, Igbo-Eze North, Igbo-Etiti and Uzo-Uwani was punctuated with all forms of electoral violence including gun shots.
WITHIN NIGERIA gathered that the bye-election election was conducted to fill the seat of the late Senator Okey Ezea who died on November 19, 2025 in Lagos.
After his burial on February 13, political fireworks was once again ignited in the state across all the political parties, with a view to finding his replacement in the red chambers.
Senatorial candidates in the bye-election
Notably, four candidates were fielded by respective political parties during the bye-election.
Ikeji Asogwa (All Progressives Congress,APC). One of the candidates contesting for the election is Ikeji Asogwa who came from ruling party, APC.
Asogwa was the former Chairman of Enugu state universal Basic Education Board, ENSUBEB, saddled with the responsibilities of overseeing the activities in the state primary schools. His election will solidify grip on power by the APC in the state. He came from the same local government with the deceased senator.
Nestor Ezeme is a candidate of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. He was the Executive chairman of Enugu state post Primary schools Management Board, PPSMB, a government parastatal that oversees the activities of secondary schools in the state.
He came from Udenu local government area.
Others are Chika Idoko Emmanuel who would fly the flag of the African Democratic Congress (ADC); Aneke Kingsley Chukwuebuka for the Booth Party (BP); Eze Ejike Simon for the Labour Party (LP); Ossai Elias Okwudili for the National Democratic Congress, NDC and Ugwuanyi Charles Ugochukwu for the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP).
Significance of the election
The significance of the bye-election lies in the fact that it will help the All Progress Congress in the state have a firm hold on power. The late Senator Okey Ezea was elected under the platform of Labour Party, LP. He was the only National Assembly member who declined to decamp to ruling party when he was alive.
Enugu North senatorial zone has 48% electoral strength in the state. For this reason, it is little wonder then there was flashes of violence during the election.
How violence, vote buying marred the election
Many polling units monitored by our reporter showed that it was indeed a harvest of violence, vote buying and other electoral malpractices during the election.
At Ibagwa-Ani, Nsukka local government area, PDP Ward Chairman Ezema Ejike Eric reported that he was attacked, assaulted robbed and stripped naked by heavily armed thugs, and managed to escape with his life.
According to Mr. Ezema Party cards and some materials meant for agents of a party (PDP) were destroyed during the attack.
Ibagwa Ani is the ward of the member representing Nsukka/Igbo-Eze South Federal Constituency, Mr. Chidi Obetta.
At Obukpa ward, Nsukka local government area, one of the thugs allegedly deployed by the ruling party announced to the voters that if they would not vote for APC, they should leave the polling unit with effect. Asked why it is so, he told them that that is the order from above.
PRP agent in the area was also shot for trying to resist ballot box snatching in one of the polling units.
At Opi ward also in Nsukka local government, two thugs were arrested for alleged attempt on the life of former vice chairman of the council area, Dr. Cosmo Agbo.
According to the former vice chairman of the council, they were sent to shoot him but he outsmarted them and got them arrested. Dr. Agbo is an opposition member.
At Udenu ward, the People’s Democratic Party, PDP Dr. Nestor Ezeme after casting his vote alleged violence in the election.
He also alleged that many opposition party members were being intimidated by thugs sent by ruling party.
At Ogwu ward Obollo-Afor, Udenu LGW, there was also a huge harvest of violence.
PDP Ward Chairman was allegedly brutally attacked during the violence that erupted at polling units.
Eyewitnesses report that the thugs allegedly shot indiscriminately, causing serious injuries to innocent voters and creating panic among residents.
Our source revealed that “in the course of the attack, motorcycles belonging to party supporters, including that of the Ward Chairman, were reportedly set ablaze, while several voters sustained injuries as they fled for safety.
“We strongly condemn every act of political violence and voter intimidation. Elections should be decided by the ballot, not by bullets, thuggery, or the destruction of lives and property.”
“We call on security agencies, electoral authorities, and relevant stakeholders to immediately investigate these allegations, bring all perpetrators to justice, and ensure that the democratic rights of the people are protected.
“Our mandate cannot be suppressed through violence. The people must be allowed to vote freely and peacefully.”
At Ibagwa-Aka, thugs also carried ballot boxes at Onuchukwu and Uhunowerre wards.
Violence also broke out at Iheakpu Awka. It was reported that some thugs who wanted to snatch ballot boxes were stopped. The criminal elements fired some shots and many voters ran away.
WITHIN NIGERIA gathered that the incident of violence is the same throughout the six local governments that made up the senatorial zone.
However, the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC is yet to comment on the violence.
Barr. Asogwa Declared winner of the election
In the meantime, INEC has announced APC candidate, Barr. Ikeji Asogwa as the winner of the election.
Announcing the results at the INEC office in Nsukka, Professor Christian Ezeibe, the INEC Returning Officer for the by-election, disclosed that Asogwa, polled a total of 162,360 votes to defeat his closest rival, Dr Nestor Ezeme of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who polled 9,299 votes to finish second in the election.
Reacting, the Director of Media and Strategy Communication for the Ikeje Asogwa Campaign Organisation, Samson Ezea, said that the outcome of the election is a reflection of the overwhelming support enjoyed by Asogwa across the six local government areas that make up the Enugu North Senatorial Zone.
