Insecurity fear in Enugu as police relocate to Nsukka for bye-election

The virtual relocation of almost all the police personnel, including the commissioner for police, the army and other security formations has brought fears of insecurity into residents of Enugu Metropolis who became apprehensive with little no no police presence in the state capital and environs.

The police in its statement, on Friday, failed to name the number of its personal being deployed to the1,488 polling units of Enugu North Senatorial district for the Senate bye-election, being keenly contested by seven political parties to replace the seat of the late Senator Okey Ezea which became vacant following his demise in November 2025.

The Commissioner of Police, Enugu State Command, CP Mamman Bitrus Giwa, announced ban on armed escorts and unauthorized armed security personnel in and around polling units and other restricted areas during the election.

He emphasized that only Police personnel and other security operatives officially deployed for election duties are permitted at polling units and restricted human and vehicular movements from 12:00 a.m. (midnight) to 6:00 p.m. on election day across the six Local Government Areas of Igbo-Etiti, Igbo Eze North, Igbo Eze South, Nsukka, Udenu, and Uzo-Uwani. 

Monitored vehicle movement between Enugu and Nsukka maintained along Nike -Ugwogo road from Friday morning till evening, particularly with police sirens scaring residents along the road corridor.

Election, straight fight between PDP, APC

Even though there are seven political parties slated to be in the ballot, it is a straight fight between the candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Nestor Ezeme and the flag bearer of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Ikeje Asogwa.

The other participating political parties are the Nigerian Democratic Congress, NDC, which has Bishop Oscar Ossai as it's candidate, the Booth Party and other parties whose identity of their candidates are not visible.

Initially, only APC, PDP and the Booth Party were scheduled for participation, but last minute list indicated that seven political parties will be better on the ballot for the election.

The campaign was tough and even smearing. The Catholic Bishop of Nsukka Diocese, Godfrey Onah, inflamed passion when at the burial of a displaced shop owner at Ogigie market, the Bishop criticized the rulling APC in the state for not restoring hope to displace traders whose premises was used for the construction of a bus terminal in the University town of Nsukka.

The Bishop's sermon was viewed as a campaign against the APC candidate for the election and generated both positive and negative reactions from the public.

In another scenario, the former Governor of Enugu State, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi was alleged to had campaigned for the election of the PDP candidate, Ezeme, but the former Governor quickly denied the allegation, noting that he remained an APC faithful.

Both scenarios pointed to a perception the the PDP candidate maybe more favoured than his APC counterpart.

Ben Nwoye predicts victory for APC 

The Deputy National Chairman (South) of the All Progressive Congress (APC) Dr. Ben Nwoye, urged residents of the district to exercise their civic responsibilities and enjoined them to avoid all forms of violence.

He expressed optimism that the candidate of the APC, Asogwa, would be victorious in the election having campaigned diligently in the six local government areas that mke up Enugu North Senatorial District.

"I, and my team from APC National Secretariat Abuja are in Nsukka to help in mobilising residents from house to house to ensure large turnout on Saturday.

"APC will accept the outcome of Saturday's by-election because the party has confidence in the capacity of INEC to conduct free and fair election, " Nwoye stated.