…As APC, APGA, NNPP, Others Pledge Support

The lawmaker representing Enugu East Senatorial Zone at the National Assembly, Senator Sir Kelvin Chukwu, has assured the people of the zone of his unwavering commitment to quality, purposeful, and effective representation anchored on the will of the people.

Speaking on Monday in Enugu during the opening of a constituency office for the people of the zone, Senator Chukwu, accompanied by his wife, Engr. Dr. Ngozi Eli-Chukwu emphasized his dedication to addressing the needs and concerns of his constituents.

He further stressed the importance of the constituency office as a bridge between his office at the National Assembly and the people of Enugu East Zone.

The senator assured the attendees that the office would serve as a hub for addressing their concerns, providing timely information, and facilitating community development projects.

“Umunnem Ndi Enugu East Senatorial District, I am committed to ensuring that your voices are heard and your needs are met. It is here that your issues will be addressed. My team and I are dedicated to bringing positive change and development to our zone.”

The senator outlined several initiatives that the office would undertake, including regular town hall meetings, educational scholarships, healthcare programs, and infrastructure development projects, among others.
He also highlighted his plans to foster economic growth by attracting investments and supporting local businesses, as well as creating job opportunities for the youth of the zone.

Senator Chukwu highlighted key areas of focus, including infrastructure development, education, agriculture, healthcare delivery, security, and economic empowerment.

“My office is open to all irrespective of your political affiliation, and I encourage my constituents to engage with me and share their concerns and suggestions.”

The senator outlined several initiatives already underway, such as the construction of new roads, the provision of educational scholarships for underprivileged students, and the establishment of healthcare centers in rural areas.

“As your servant, I will advocate for policies that benefit our zone and ensure that we receive our fair share of federal resources. I’m here to serve you and to make sure that Enugu East Zone continues to progress and thrive,” Chukwu added.

The senator took the opportunity to thank the people of Enugu East for their support and trust in his leadership, pledging to remain accessible and accountable, and assured them of regular updates on his activities and progress.

The inauguration ceremony, which took place at 25B Ezeilo Street By Brown & Brown, Independence Layout Enugu, was attended by a diverse group of stakeholders, including local leaders, party members, community representatives, and enthusiastic residents.

The event was marked by speeches, cultural displays, and a ribbon-cutting ceremony to mark the official opening of the constituency office.

Speaking at the event, the Enugu State Labour Party Deputy Chairman, Hon. Dr. Maurice Edeh, expressed gratitude to Senator Chukwu for his commitment to the zone.

Others who spoke during the ceremony included Member representing Enugu East Rural Constituency in Enugu State House of Assembly, Hon. Raymond Ugwu; his Enugu East Urban counterpart, Hon. Osita Okoh; Former Commissioner in the state, Chief Barr. Lucky Chukwu; Labour Party State Women Leader, Hon. Mrs. Emilia Chidiegwu; Labour Party Chairman in Enugu South LGA, Chief Chinwuba Ngwu; Special Adviser to the senator on Special Duties, Prof. Denchris Onah; and Hon. Chief Ejike Ani.

They praised his efforts to stay connected with the grassroots and his proactive approach to solving local issues.

Also speaking, representatives of various political parties, including former Enugu State Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Dr. Barr. Ben Nwoye; Chief Philip Aniede of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA); and Mrs. Ifeoma Nwokedi of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), thanked the senator for his commitment to empowering the zone.

A representative of the Hausa Community in Enugu East Senatorial Zone thanked Senator Chukwu for being a detribalized parliamentarian, which is evident in the inclusion of the Hausa community in his leadership.

The ceremony concluded with a tour of the new office, where attendees were shown the various facilities with assurance that the office would be fully operational to serve the interests of Ndi Enugu East Zone.

With the opening of the constituency office, the people of the zone can now look forward to more direct and effective communication with their senator.

Ahead of the re-run election for the Enugu South Urban state constituency slated for June 8, 2024, Labour Party (LP) candidate Barr. Bright Ngene has called on the National Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to ensure neutrality in the upcoming election.

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Addressing the press, Barr. Ngene expressed a lack of confidence in the Enugu State Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Dr. Chukwuemeka Chukwu, and the Electoral Officer for Enugu South, Mr. Francis Chigbu, to conduct the rerun election for the third time.

Following the March 18, 2023, House of Assembly election, Labour Party secured 5,862 votes, while the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) obtained 2,098 votes. Consequently, INEC declared LP the winner, and Ngene was inducted into the 8th Assembly of Enugu State, receiving a certificate of return from INEC.

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However, the PDP candidate contested the victory in court, arguing that the election should be declared inconclusive due to violence in eight polling units located in Ward 5 Uwani (Uwani Secondary School and Robinson Primary School), which have 4,257 registered voters. The court ruled in favor of the PDP’s argument and ordered a rerun election in the affected polling units.

Ngene questioned why INEC would allow the same officials, who failed to conduct the first rerun election on February 3, 2024, to oversee the third attempt.

“The first rerun could not proceed because the original result sheet mysteriously went missing under the supervision of Dr. Chukwu and Mr. Chigbu, who have yet to account for its disappearance,” Ngene stated. “To date, no explanation has been provided by the duo or INEC regarding the missing original result sheet.”

Ngene strongly opposed the involvement of REC Enugu, Chukwuemeka Chukwu and E.O. Enugu South, Mr. Francis Chigbu in the forthcoming rerun election, citing concerns over their integrity and the likelihood of the original result sheet and other vital materials going missing under their custody.

He lamented the lack of representation for his constituency over the past nine months and called on the media, local and international organizations to closely monitor the area where the elections will be held to ensure that the will of the people is respected.

“It has been over nine months that the Enugu South Urban constituency seat has remained vacant and unrepresented in the Enugu State House of Assembly,” Ngene said. “I passionately urge the press, NGOs, civil society organizations, election monitors, the European Union, and other international organizations to be present during this third rerun election to ensure that the results announced by INEC reflect the true votes cast by the electorate in the eight polling units.”