INEC has assured residents of a transparent senatorial by-election on June 20 to replace the late Sen. Okey Ezea, while simultaneously launching Phase III of the Continuous Voter Registration exercise in Enugu State.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has officially pledged to conduct a free, fair, and credible by-election in the Enugu North Senatorial District, scheduled for June 20, 2026. The election aims to fill the legislative vacancy created by the passing of Senator Okey Ezea.
The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) for Enugu State, Dr. Chukwuemeka Chukwu, announced the commission’s readiness during a press briefing on Monday. The by-election will span the six local government areas comprising the district: Udenu, Igbo-Eze North, Igbo-Eze South, Nsukka, Igbo-Etiti, and Uzo-Uwani.
In addition to the by-election preparations, Dr. Chukwu announced the commencement of Phase III of the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) across the state, effective May 11. This phase allows eligible citizens to:
- Perform new registrations.
- Request voter transfers.
- Correct personal details on existing Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs).
The REC highlighted the success of previous phases, noting that 67,751 new voters have already been registered in Enugu State between August 2025 and April 2026. Phase III will run until July 10, 2026, utilizing rotated Voter Enrolment Devices (IVEDs) to ensure rural areas have adequate access to the registration process.
Dr. Chukwu emphasized that INEC remains a neutral umpire and called on political parties, traditional rulers, and civil society organizations to maintain order.
“INEC remains firmly committed to conducting elections that are free, fair, credible, inclusive, and transparent in line with its constitutional mandate,” Chukwu stated.
The commission has already intensified voter enlightenment programs to discourage electoral violence and ensure that the “Nsukka zone” experiences a hitch-free transition following the loss of their representative. Residents are urged to take advantage of the ongoing registration to secure their participation in future democratic exercises.
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