Ben Ezechime, Enugu
The Labour Party (LP) legislative caucus in Enugu State, on Sunday, called for immediate release of the party’s Candidate for Enugu South Urban State Constituency election, Mr Bright Ngene, who is currently being held at Enugu Correctional Centre.
It would be recalled that Ngene was declared winner of the Enugu South Urban State Constituency election held on March 18, 2023 General Elections by INEC.
However, PDP candidate challenged the victory and sought for the election to be declared inconclusive, which the Election Petition Tribunal agreed and ordered a rerun in eight polling units.
In a dramatic twist, an Enugu South Magistrate Court presided over by Magistrate E.D. Onwu sentenced the LP candidate, Ngene, to Enugu Correctional Centre on Friday, June 28.
Leading the caucus to the solidarity visit at the correctional centre on Sunday, Sen. Kelvin Chukwu (LP), representing Enugu East Senatorial Zone, said that “Ngene is being incarcerated unjustly.”
Chukwu said that Ngene’s incarceration was on the account of the re-run election, which he is currently the leading contender with over 3,700 votes ahead.
He said: “There have been three attempts for the re-run election to be held but all proved abortive even as Hon Bright Ngene is leading comfortably with over 3,700 votes against his rival in PDP.
“While the vote being contested for in the re-run, which is for eight polling units, is 4,200 votes.
“Because PDP had ulterior motive, they will not allow the election to be concluded fairly, freely and credibly.
“Surprisingly, the case Hon. Ngene had with his village in 2007, which has been forgotten; they (PDP) went and dusted it up and in that day they came to magistrate court for the first time, the magistrate decided to incarcerate him.”
According to him, “I have not heard this kind of thing; in the eyes of the law, this is illegal.
“We have decided to come and see him and show him solidarity that he is not alone in this case,” Chukwu said.
Speaking, Rep Sunday Umeha, Representing Ezeagu/Udi Federal Constituency, called on the Chief Judge of the state, Justice Raymond Ozoemena, and the state’s attorney general to “right the wrong and see to the immediate release of Ngene.”
Umeha alleged that anti-democratic forces, who clearly know that no matter how the re-run election is held that Ngene will surely win, had held him down with his incarceration at the correctional centre.
According to him, both the national assembly caucus and the state assembly caucus of LP are here to show and tell him that we are with him on his travail.
“There is an on-going appeal on the matter and we sincerely believe the incarceration will be reversed for justice to prevail.
“We have confidence in the state judiciary and its ability to right the wrong.
“As leaders of the people we do not want further hardship in the land and that is why justice should be done to all to ensure hardship and disconnect do not persist any more.
“LP is not just a political party but a movement that speaks for the voiceless masses and ultimately aim at alleviating the suffering and hardship in the land,” he said.
Other prominent LP national assembly members in the solidarity visit include: Rep Paul Nnamchi, representing Enugu East/Isiuzo Federal Constituency and Rep Chimaobi Atu, representing Enugu North and Enugu South Federal Constituency among others.
