The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is facing mounting criticism over its decision to conduct a re-run election in the Enugu South Urban State Constituency, scheduled for August 16, 2025, despite an active court case challenging its legality.
Stakeholders, legal experts, and concerned citizens have expressed outrage, calling the move hasty, unlawful, and a direct affront to judicial authority.
At the heart of the controversy is Suit No: FHC/EN/CS/144/2024, currently before the Federal High Court in Enugu. The suit, filed by aggrieved parties, directly questions INEC’s powers to proceed with the scheduled re-run. Both INEC and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) are listed as defendants in the case. Court records reveal that all parties have already exchanged briefs of arguments, motions, and counter-motions, indicating that the matter is far from resolved.
Observers have described INEC’s insistence on forging ahead with the election as both puzzling and potentially unlawful, warning that the Commission may be attempting to pre-empt or undermine the court’s eventual ruling.
“It is baffling why INEC would proceed with this re-run without awaiting the outcome of a case that questions its very legality,” a prominent stakeholder said. “Such action appears to be an attempt to overreach the court and render any judgment meaningless.”
The situation has sparked concerns about external influences possibly driving INEC’s actions. Critics argue that the Commission, constitutionally mandated to act with impartiality and uphold democratic values, is now risking its credibility and legitimacy.
Legal practitioners stress that INEC must respect the rule of law, especially when its actions are under judicial scrutiny. Proceeding with the re-run without a clear ruling from the court, they warn, may not only be viewed as contempt of court but could also set a dangerous precedent.
“INEC is a creation of the law and must be bound by it,” one legal analyst noted. “Disregarding the judicial process in this manner weakens public trust in both our electoral and judicial institutions.”
Stakeholders are now urging INEC to immediately suspend all preparations for the August 16 re-run and await the court’s ruling on the matter. They caution that failure to do so could further deepen political tensions in Enugu South and erode confidence in Nigeria’s fragile democratic process.
As the date draws closer, all eyes are on the Federal High Court in Enugu, whose decision may ultimately determine whether the re-run holds or is halted in favor of due process.
