The Labour Party (LP) legislative caucus in Enugu State, has called for the immediate release of the party’s candidate for Enugu South Urban State Constituency election, Mr. Bright Ngene, who is currently being held at the Enugu Correctional Centre.
Recall that Ngene’s election was upturned by the Election Petition Tribunal, ordering a rerun in eight polling units. The decision was also sustained by the Appeal Court.
However, three attempts by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC to conduct the re-run election failed.
While a new date for the conduct of the election is still being expected, a case Ngene had with his community came alive again and an Enugu South Magistrate Court, presided over by Magistrate E.D. Onwu, sentenced the LP candidate to the Enugu Correctional Centre on Friday, June 28.
Leading the caucus on a solidarity visit to the correctional centre, Sen. Kelvin Chukwu representing Enugu East Senatorial Zone, stated that “Ngene is being unjustly incarcerated.”
Chukwu explained that Ngene’s incarceration is linked to the rerun election, in which he is currently the leading contender, ahead by over 3,700 votes.
He stated, “There have been three attempts to conduct the rerun election, but all have proven abortive, even as Hon. Bright Ngene is comfortably leading with over 3,700 votes against closest challenger. The votes contested in the rerun, involving eight polling units, total 4,200.”
“Surprisingly, the case Hon. Ngene had with his village in 2007, which has long been forgotten, was revived. On the second day of the hearing even without allowing the parties to adopt their brief, the magistrate decided to incarcerate him.”
According to him, “I have not encountered anything like this; in the eyes of the law, this is illegal. We have come to see him and show our solidarity to let him know he is not alone in this situation,” Chukwu said.
Also speaking, the member representing Ụdị/Ezeagu federal constituency, Sunday Umeha, called on the Chief Judge of the state, Justice Raymond Ozoemena, and the state’s attorney general to “right the wrong and ensure the immediate release of Ngene.”
Umeha alleged that anti-democratic forces, aware that Ngene would surely win no matter how the rerun election unfolds, have kept him incarcerated at the correctional centre. He emphasized that both the national assembly caucus and the state assembly caucus of the LP stand united in Ngene’s struggle.
“There is an ongoing 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 correct this wrong. As leaders of the people, we do not want to see further hardship in the land, which is why justice should be served to reiterate people’s belief in democratic process and rule of law.
“The LP is not just a political party but a movement that speaks for the voiceless masses and ultimately aims to alleviate the suffering and hardship in the land,” he stated.
Other lawmakers on the platform of Labour Party that were present during the visit include; Senator Okey Ezea, representing Enugu North Senatorial Zone; Hon Paul Nnamchi, representing Enugu East/Isiuzo Federal Constituency; Hon.Chimaobi Atu, representing Enugu North and Enugu South Federal Constituency, members of the state House of Assembly, among others.
