The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has shifted the conduct of Saturday’s senatorial election in Enugu East Senatorial District to March 11, following the death of the Labour Party (LP) Senatorial Candidate, Oyibo Chukwu.
Oyibo Chukwu was killed at Amechi, Awkunanaw local government area of Enugu while returning from a campaign rally by a gang of gunmen on Wednesday, February 22, 2023.
INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, disclosed this on Friday in Abuja, while briefing newsmen on preparations for Saturday’s Presidential election.
Yakubu said that the commission’s decision followed the notice and request from LP as a result of the death of its candidate in the election.
“The LP has provided satisfactory evidence of the death of its candidate. Consequently, the Commission has suspended the election in the senatorial district as provided by Law.
“We have already communicated this decision to our Enugu State office.
“Therefore, there will be no senatorial election in Enugu East Senatorial District made up of six Local Government Areas, 77 Wards and 1,630 Polling Units.
“The election will now be combined with the Governorship and State Assembly elections holding in the next two weeks on March 11,” Yakubu said.
He said that materials already delivered for the senatorial election would remain in the custody of the Central Bank in the State until the new date for election.
Yakubu, fielding questions from newsmen, said that the commission expected the party to submit name of its replacement candidate by next week.
He also said that campaign for the election could continue in the senatorial district until 24 hours to the elections.
Oyibo Chukwu was killed at Amechi, Awkunanaw local government area of Enugu while returning from a campaign rally by a gang of gunmen on Wednesday, February 22, 2023.
The gunmen killed the politician alongside five supporters who were with him in his vehicle and set all of them ablaze.
Confirming the incident, the governorship candidate of the Labour Party, Chijioke Edeoga, said Labour Party members are being targeted for assassination by politicians who feel threatened by the rise of the party in Enugu.
He said, “It is true that our senatorial candidate for Enugu East senatorial district for Saturday’s election has been killed. They (gunmen) shot him and five others and set them ablaze.
