Hoodlums disrupt rerun poll in Enugu constituency

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says hoodlums have disrupted the rerun election in the Enugu south 1 state constituency.

In a statement on its official X account, INEC said the incident was reported by its Enugu state office.

INEC said no casualties were reported, but election materials were destroyed, and voters were prevented from casting their votes.

“Our officials have been safely evacuated with assistance from security agencies,” the statement reads.

“In contrast, the supplementary election in the Jalingo/Yorro/Zing Federal Constituency of Taraba State is unfolding peacefully across three Local Government Areas.”

The electoral umpire had fixed February 14 for the by-election and rerun polls suspended in Taraba and Enugu states.

On February 3, by-elections were held in nine constituencies to fill seats made vacant by the demise or resignation of members elected during the 2023 general election, in the national and state houses of assembly.

Rerun elections also took place in 39 constituencies as ordered by the election petition appeal tribunals.

In the by-election, the final declaration of the Jalingo/Yorro/Zing federal constituency of Taraba was postponed due to over-voting in certain polling units, impacting the lead margin between the candidates with the highest number of votes.

In the rerun, INEC suspended the election in two polling units in the Ikono/Ini federal constituencies of Akwa Ibom state.

The commission also suspended election in all polling units in the Enugu south state constituency and Kunchi/Tsanyawa state constituency of Kano, due to disruptions, violence, thuggery and the hijack of election materials.