Assessing Contestants In Enugu North Senatorial Bye-Election

Come June 20, 2026, the people of Enugu North Senatorial District of Enugu State will file out to elect their senator to serve out the tenure of the late Senator Okey Ezea who died last year.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had earlier cleared only candidates of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and Boot Party (BP) as eligible to participate in the poll. The Labour Party, whom the late Ezea belonged, had approached the court to contest its exclusion. INEC promptly reversed itself, and cleared additional five candidates from different political parties to contest the seat.

The final list comprises Chika Idoko of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Ikeje Asogwa of APC; Kingsley Aneke of the BP, Ejike Eze, LP; Oscar Ossai of the National Democratic Congress (NDC); Nestor Ezeme of the PDP, and Ugochukwu Ugwuanyi of the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP).

THE WHISTLER reports that Enugu North Senatorial District is composed of Nsukka, Igbo-Eze North, Igbo-Eze South, Udenu, Uzo-Uwani and Igbo Etiti local government areas.

Opinions show that the race seems to be between PDP’s Nestor Ezeme and APC’s Ikeje Asogwa. Other contenders, analysts say, might just be social media contestants.

PRP’s Ugochukwu Ugwuanyi

Dr Charles Ugochukwu Ugwuanyi is the candidate of the PRP. He is from Nkalegu Obukpa in Igboeze South LGA. A graduate of the University of Nigeria, Dr Ugwuanyi is a specialist neurosurgeon. He served the federal government in that capacity for over thirty years. He is the founder of a specialist hospital in Abuja.

He says his mission to the Senate is youth empowerment. He also pledged to improve the infrastructural development of the district. “I will use our constituency allowances to achieve these,” he said in a video. “I will explore our agricultural potentials through rural roads. I will also improve our health sector by making our Comprehensive Health Centre, Obukpa, to become a Federal Medical Centre. The National Orthopaedic Hospital, Aku, will also be looked into. Education will also be aided. Again, I shall work hard to get Adada State created, and improve Adada Dam to improve our irrigation. Hold me responsible if I didn’t deliver.”

“I doubt if PRP has an office in Enugu State,” Obinna Egumgbe, a public affairs analyst, said. “Ugo Ugwuanyi is sound, but apart from posts on social media, he has not been physically campaigning unless there are other methods beyond visibility.”

NDC’s Oscar Ossai

The Nigeria Democratic Congress’ Oscar Ossai, a bishop, began to be heard few days to the election, according Christian Eze, a member of NDC. “I do see his posters online, but apart from that, he is not on ground. He might be banking on Mr Peter Obi. Just yesterday, Thursday, we began to see branded vehicles of Mr Obi and Bishop Ossai inviting people to converge on Nsukka to welcome Obi who will lead his campaign. Whether Obi or not, Ossai should play his own role by embarking on grass-roots mobilisation.”

The NDC candidate is however viral on many WhatsApp platforms being addressed as “the incoming senator”. He remains a strong contender considering the support base of NDC in the zone. “Yes, but remember that NDC primaries where candidates emerged without winning may also have created disaffection within NDC,” says Eze.

Ossai’s campaign DG is one Amb Chukwuemeka Agu, who doubles as DG, Peter Obi for Inclusive Leadership and Good Governance. Agu in a post is soliciting the support of the people of the district for Bishop Ossai. In the post, he is urging his supporters to do “more works with extra-efforts in grass-roots mobilisation, political and electoral sensitisation as well prepare very well and get ready to campaign very well, vote and deliver our incoming senator”.

The campaign DG assured that Ossai “is the only man the cap of leadership fits for inclusive leadership, good governance and effective representation in the Red Chambers for the betterment of Enugu North Senatorial District and Nigeria at large”.

He urged all hands to be “on deck for us to achieve this noble vision with successful and victorious outing for the forthcoming bye-election on 20th June, 2026.”

When our correspondent reached out to the DG, he said he was in Abuja, and would let our reporter know when he would be available for a telephone interview. He never did. Ossai’s chances, however, brightened with the declaration of the late Ezea’s support group to stand by him. The group’s coordinator, Mathew Ameh, said Ossai would enjoy the support of the support group being “the best candidate suited to continue the sterling legacy of the late Ezea”.

Boot Party’s Kingsley Aneke

Mr Kingsley Aneke is the youngest candidate in the race. His presence is at its lowest ebb as efforts by our correspondent to track him, his campaign team or the party office did not yield any result.

Labour Party’s Amb Ejike Eze

Amb Ejike Eze is a seasoned diplomat, and hitherto strong member of the APC. He was the senatorial candidate of APC in the 2023 general elections. He left APC, alleging that it has been hijacked by PDP decampees in the state.

However, Eze’s race in the bye-election looks dull, and unexpected considering that LP won the same seat in 2023. According to Israel Ozioko, a political analyst, “LP’s factionalisation in the state has marred the chances of Amb Eze. In 2023, Casmir Agbo, who led LP then, galvanised support for the party alongside its guber candidate, Chijioke Edeoga. The late Sen Okey Ezea was also highly influential, added to the Peter Obi wave. All these led to the victory of LP, including defeating the incumbent governor then. Where are these big men today? They have left. Casmir Agbo is no longer LP’s state chair, or he has his own faction. Amb Ejike Eze’s wings have been clipped. Don’t expect miracles from him.”

ADC’s Chika Idoko

Mr Chika Idoko of the African Democratic Congress is not conspicuous as envisaged. With the motto, “Together we can build a greater tomorrow”, Idoko’s campaign focuses on making the people’s voices heard, accountability, and creating opportunities to better the lives of the people of the district.
Mr Idoko’s chances weakened when Peter Obi left ADC for NDC. “Obi is a major factor that undermined ADC in South East as a whole,” analyst Chinwendu Nwonu said. “ADC, in Enugu North from inception, was to champion Peter Obi’s grass-roots mobilisation. When Obi left, ADC collapsed. It will be a herculean task for the party to do well in this bye-election, coupled with the party’s crisis at the national level. That is why Mr Idoko has remained silent. He is not sure if investing in the campaign would yield any positive result.”

Despite all odds, those close to Mr Idoko attest to his forthrightness. Chidi Wilfred writing on Idoko stated that, “This is the only man we know and can confidently attest to his integrity among all the contestants. Let us all come out and make it real for Comrade Chika Idoko to the hallowed Red Chamber of the Senate.”

APC’s Ikeje Asogwa

One of the visible candidates is Mr Ikeje Asogwa of the All Progressives Congress. Being the candidate of the ruling party in the state, Mr Asogwa remains a strong contender. He has sustained his campaign across all the six local government areas that make up Enugu North Senatorial District, with the state Governor, Peter Mbah, leading some of them. With huge resources at his disposal, Ikeje has also taken his campaigns to markets. To boost his chances, a foundation, Chirote Ogadinma Empowerment, has instituted N10m reward for political wards in Igbo-Eze North LGA that record the highest votes for Mr Asogwa.

PDP’s Nestor Ezeme

Nestor Ezeme, a lawyer, is waxing strong ahead of the poll. His campaigns have been well attended by organic supporters. In one of them, PDP’s governorship candidate for the 2027 general election in the state, Chief Uche Nnaji, was in the forefront. Chief Nnaji, a former federal minister, also made far-reaching promises of the positives that will come with the victory of Ezeme come June 20.

“Ezeme enjoys a huge support base among the youth,” Tone Ezike, a lawyer, said. “Many people who will vote for him because he is humble and young. Ezeme is also enjoying the backing of the traditional PDP faithful in the state. Many of them joined APC, but many remained. Enugu State has been PDP since 1999. Ezeme might also be in the good book of FCT Minister Nysome Wike.”

Security Assured

The Enugu State Police Command has assured the people of the district of adequate security before, during and after the election. The state Police Commissioner, CP Bitrus Giwa, in a statement, reiterated the ban on armed escorts and unauthorised armed security personnel in and around polling units and other restricted areas during the election.
He also restated the restriction of human and vehicular movements from 12am to 6pm on the election day across the six LGAs that make up the district.

“The restriction exempts only electoral officials, accredited observes, journalists and other persons on verified essential duties,” CP Giwa said.