The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has released a revised final list of candidates for the June 20, 2026 Enugu North Senatorial District by-election, clearing seven candidates from different political parties to contest for the vacant Senate seat.
The earlier exclusion of several parties, including the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) and Labour Party (LP), sparked controversy and generated legal and political reactions across the senatorial district.
The Labour Party had approached the court to challenge the omission of its candidate from the by-election.
However, following the eventual inclusion of its candidate in the revised list released by INEC, the party was reported to have withdrawn the suit.
According to the final list, Chika Idoko Emmanuel of the African Democratic Congress (ADC); Asogwa Ikeje Israel of the APC; Aneke Kingsley Chukwuebuka of the BP; Eze Ejike Simon of the LP; Ossai Elias Okwudili of the National Democratic Congress (NDC); Ezeme Nestor Chika of the PDP, and Ugwuanyi Charles Ugochukwu of the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) will contest the election.
The revised list effectively opens the race to four additional parties that were absent from the commission’s earlier publication.
Political stakeholders have welcomed the development, describing it as a move that broadens participation and gives voters a wider range of choices in the forthcoming by-election.
The election is scheduled to hold on June 20 across the six local government areas that make up Enugu North Senatorial District.
The district comprises Nsukka, Igbo-Eze North, Igbo-Eze South, Udenu, Uzo-Uwani and Igbo Etiti local government areas.
A breakdown of the candidates shows that Eze Ejike Simon of the Labour Party is the oldest contender at 67 years, while Ossai Elias Okwudili of the NDC is 66 years old.
The youngest candidate in the race is Aneke Kingsley Chukwuebuka of the Boot Party, aged 39, followed by Chika Idoko Emmanuel of the ADC, who is 41.
Other candidates include Asogwa Ikeje Israel of the APC, aged 56; Ezeme Nestor Chika of the PDP, aged 55; and Ugwuanyi Charles Ugochukwu of the PRP, also 55.
INEC’s final notice further indicates that all seven candidates are male.
With the publication of the final list, political parties are expected to intensify their campaigns ahead of the poll, which will determine who represents Enugu North Senatorial District in the Senate for the next 12 months. Nation