Enugu State Commissioner for Health, Prof. George Ugwu, has hailed voters especially female electorate in Nsukka council area for defiling rain and other challenges in the Enugu North Senatorial District by-election.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is currently conducting a by-election in Enugu North Senatorial District, which covers six council areas: Igbo-Etiti, Igbo Eze North, Igbo Eze South, Nsukka, Udenu, and Uzo-Uwani.
Ugwu told newsmen on Saturday after casting his vote in Polling Unit 004 (in Amugwu Village Hall) Obukpa ward, Nsukka council area that female voters displayed resilience to see that they performed their civic responsibility.
“I must commend the zeal of most female electorate, who defiled the rain and other temporary challenges to cast their vote and stayed back to protect their votes,” he said.
The commissioner said the election was “very peaceful” in his ward as well as other parts of Nsukka council area polling units he received report about.
On security, Ugwu said security agencies on election duties performed professionally in their duties.
He said the turn out was impressive, adding that few voters arrived early but towards 11a.m. most voting centres were crowded with voters hungry to perform their civic responsibility.
He advised INEC to strengthen its manpower training, technology and logistics capacities.
“INEC’s Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) devices cause some hitch initially in the morning but as the day progressed and the weather got clearer, it picked up and many voters cast their votes.
“The initial delay in connectivity of the BVAS, delayed some voters that wanted to cast their votes early but the people waited patiently especially female voters,” he said.
The by-election followed the demise of Sen. Okechukwu Ezea, representing Enugu North Senatorial District, who passed-on in November 2025.
Five political parties including the APC, PDP, NDC, LP, and Boot Party are participating in the exercise.
