By-Elections: Angry Voters Disgrace, Boo Tinubu’s Minister, Chase Him Out Of Polling Unit (Video)

There was drama on Saturday in Enugu as residents openly confronted the Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Uche Nnaji, accusing him of storming a polling unit with thugs in a bid to rig the bye-election in Enugu South Urban Constituency.

In a viral video, irate voters and youths were seen booing and shouting down the minister, insisting he had no business interfering in the electoral process.

“As a minister, you are not supposed to be here. You are not an agent. You don’t have any business here,” one voter screamed, while others chorused in agreement.

The scene quickly escalated as the crowd, comprising men, women and children, surrounded Nnaji and his entourage, forcing them to leave the polling unit in disgrace.

Eyewitnesses alleged that the minister, who has been derisively nicknamed “the Sleeping Minister” by critics, arrived with political thugs in an attempt to influence proceedings but was chased out by angry voters.

Meanwhile, the bye-election itself ended in chaos as voting failed to take place at Uwani Secondary School, the designated polling centre, despite the deployment of election materials by the Independent National Electoral Commission.

By 3:20 p.m., officials had packed up without a single ballot being cast. The process was stalled earlier in the day due to the absence of sensitive materials, particularly result sheets.

The tension heightened when a group of women stormed the venue in protest, demanding the disqualification of the Labour Party candidate whom they accused of having been convicted in July 2024 by an Enugu South Magistrates’ Court for allegedly mismanaging a N15 million community development fund.

Enugu State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Dr Chukwuemeka Chukwu, expressed concern over the repeated failures of the exercise.

“This is the fourth time this by-election has been attempted without success. I am pleading with all stakeholders to behave responsibly and allow us to conclude this process. The people of Enugu deserve a fair election,” he said.

The Peoples Democratic Party candidate, Sam Ngene, decried the disruption, accusing high-profile officials of meddling in the process.

“If you look properly, there is strong mobilisation for this election. The problem is the infiltration of influential figures like the Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Uche Nnaji, and Senator Kevil Chukwu, who are interfering with the process,” he stated.

Defending his presence, Nnaji insisted that he was acting in his capacity as the leader of the APC in Enugu State.

“I have a right to be here because I am the leader of my party in the state. The PDP cannot win this election. If the election is not concluded today, we will stay here until it is,” he declared.

On his part, the LP Chairman in Enugu South, Chinwuba Ngwu, lamented the absence of voting.

“We have been here since 7 a.m. There is no accreditation, no voting, and no information from INEC. We are in the dark,” he said.