The Enugu State chapter of the Labour Party has vehemently denounced the imprisonment of its candidate, Bright Ngene, who was sentenced to seven years in prison on trumped-up charges. Ngene, the candidate for Enugu South Urban State Constituency, was tried and convicted in a manner the party describes as politically motivated and biased.
The party alleges that the magistrate, E. D. Onwu, acted under external influences to expedite the case, disregarding community protests and a pending petition to the National Judicial Commission (NJC) regarding his visible bias. The Labour Party believes that the PDP-led government and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) are colluding to manipulate the election in favor of the PDP candidate, Sam Ngene.
The party claims that the rerun election has been repeatedly postponed due to the PDP’s unpreparedness and attempts to rig the election. In response, the Labour Party has condemned the detention of Bright Ngene, describing it as a violation of human rights and fundamental freedoms. They urge the NJC, human rights organizations, and the international community to condemn this injustice and advocate for Ngene’s freedom.