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Voters turned out in small numbers across Enugu North Senatorial District on Saturday as a peaceful by-election got underway, though poor turnout and delays in the arrival of materials in some areas marked the exercise.
The election, which followed the death of Senator Okechukwu Ezea in November 2025, saw materials arrive at collation centers from 9:00 a.m., with the exception of communities with difficult terrain, the News Agency of Nigeria reported.
At Amaechenu polling unit in Nsukka LGA, an INEC official, who declined to be named, said voting would commence after party agents and voters had inspected the materials.
While voting began by 10:00 a.m. at the Ogbodu Aba community in Udenu LGA, where community leader Sunday Ugwueke described the exercise as “smooth and peaceful,” other areas experienced delays.
At Amube Orba, the voting center of former Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, materials were yet to arrive as at 10:05 a.m.
Similarly, materials were still awaited at some polling units in Orba, Imillike and Udunedem communities as at 9:45 a.m.
Udenu Local Government Chairman Aka Eze-Aka, who cast his vote at 9:10 a.m., commended the peaceful conduct and praised INEC and Governor Peter Mbah for a smooth exercise.
Both the APC Chairman in Nsukka LGA, Chris Ezema, and his PDP counterpart, Desmond Onah, expressed satisfaction with the prompt distribution of materials.
At the Union Primary School and Township Primary School polling units in Nsukka, accreditation and voting were in progress by 9:37 a.m.
“It is fantastic. We saw INEC officials at about 8a.m. I’ve already voted,” Ngozi Agbo told NAN at the Union Primary School unit.
An alleged result sheet snatching was reported at Umuokara Village Hall in Orba, with residents identifying a suspect they called “Okadigbo” as a thug.
However, the presiding officer at the unit denied the allegation, insisting the result sheet remained with them.
Although major markets in Nsukka remained closed, shops, filling stations and other businesses operated normally.
Security agencies maintained a visible presence across polling units, with no reports of violence.
Five political parties, APC, PDP, NDC, LP and Boot Party, are contesting the seat.
