The Rule of Law and Accountability Advocacy Centre (RULAAC) has called for an immediate independent judicial investigation into allegations of widespread violence and electoral malpractice during the June 20, 2026, Enugu North Senatorial District by-election.
​The civil society group’s demand follows conflicting accounts of the poll, which saw the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declare Ikeje Asogwa of the All Progressives Congress (APC) the winner across the six local government areas making up the senatorial district.
​In a statement issued from Enugu, RULAAC highlighted serious complaints raised by opposition candidates and election observers. The candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Nestor Ezeme, strongly condemned the exercise, alleging systemic electoral manipulation, intimidation of voters, and targeted violence at several polling units.
​RULAAC noted that independent field reports indicated severe disruptions and delayed voting. The late arrival of sensitive materials and INEC officials stalled the commencement of voting in multiple registration areas across the Nsukka zone. Incidents of voter intimidation and targeted disruptions went largely unchecked by deployed security agencies.
​”The integrity of any democratic process rests heavily on transparency and fairness,” the statement read. “The gravity of the allegations coming out of the Enugu North by-election cannot be swept under the carpet if public trust in the electoral system is to be sustained.”
​While the Coalition of Registered Political Parties (CRPP) characterized the election as peaceful, RULAAC insists that a superficial assessment is insufficient given the formal complaints lodged by participating stakeholders.
​The advocacy group is urging the Federal Government and relevant judicial panels to review the deployment of security operatives during the exercise and thoroughly investigate the disruption of results transmission. RULAAC emphasized that holding perpetrators accountable remains the only way to prevent future democratic subversion in Enugu State.
