The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), which monitored the exercise, observed that electoral materials began arriving at some collation centres from about 9:00 a.m., except in locations with difficult terrain where distribution appeared slower.
At Amaechenu Polling Unit in Nsukka Local Government Area, where two polling booths were set up, an official of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), who requested anonymity, said the process began promptly after the arrival and inspection of election materials by party agents and voters.
According to the official, the materials had just been delivered and the exercise was set to commence immediately after the necessary checks were completed.
Some voters at the polling unit expressed readiness to cast their ballots, but only a few people turned up at the centre.
A similar situation was recorded at a polling unit in Ogbodu Aba community, Udenu Local Government Area, where voting reportedly started around 10:00 a.m.
A community leader, Mr Sunday Ugwueke, who spoke after casting his vote, described the process as peaceful and orderly, noting that the election in the area had gone smoothly.
Also in Udenu, the council chairman, Mr Aka Eze-Aka, voted at about 9:10 a.m. at Agamede Polling Unit in Obollo Eke. He later praised the calm atmosphere surrounding the exercise and commended both INEC and Governor Peter Mbah for what he described as a smooth process.
Political party leaders in Nsukka also expressed satisfaction with the conduct of the election. The Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Nsukka Local Government Area, Chief Chris Ezema, and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chairman in the area, Mr Desmond Onah, both lauded INEC for the timely deployment of election materials.
By 9:37 a.m., NAN observed that accreditation and voting had commenced in several polling units, although voter participation remained low.
At Union Primary School, Nsukka, and Township Primary School, Obechara, accreditation and voting were ongoing when NAN visited.
One of the voters, Mrs Ngozi Agbo, said she was able to vote after accreditation, adding that INEC officials and security personnel arrived at the polling unit as early as 8:00 a.m.
Another voter, Mr Vincent Ugwu, who cast his ballot at Obechara Polling Unit, also commended the early arrival of electoral officials and materials.
Across the polling units visited, the process was largely peaceful, with security personnel on ground and no reports of violence. However, the low turnout of voters stood out in many locations.
Despite the election, economic activities were not completely shut down in Nsukka. While major markets remained closed, some shops, businesses and filling stations opened for the day.
The by-election is being held to fill the vacant Enugu North Senatorial seat following the death of Senator Okechukwu Ezea, who passed away in November 2025.
NAN reports that five political parties are participating in the contest. They include the APC, PDP, NDC, Labour Party (LP), and the Boot Party.