BREAKING: INEC Suspends Enugu East Senatorial Election Over Death Of LP Candidate

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has suspended the Enugu East Senatorial District election over the death of the Labour Party (LP) candidate, Oyibo Chukwu.

Enugu East Senatorial Election Suspended By INEC Over Death Of LP Candidate

INEC chairman, Mahmood Yakubu, announced the development on Friday during a media briefing at the national collation centre in Abuja.

Chukwu was reportedly killed and set ablaze at Amechi Awkunanaw in Enugu south LGA on Wednesday after gunmen opened fire on his convoy.

Yakubu said the senatorial election for Enugu east district will now hold on March 11, 2023.

“The party conveyed its intention to participate in the election for that constituency by replacing its deceased candidate. This request is in line with the provision of the law, section 34(1) of the Electoral Act, 2022,” he said.

“The Labour Party 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 tomorrow, February 25, 2023.

“The election will now be combined with the governorship and state assemblies’ elections holding in the next two weeks — on 11th of March, 2023.”

Meanwhile, Kanyi Daily reported that the party’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi has condemned the murder of Oyibo Chukwu and called on law enforcement agents to fish out and bring the perpetrators to book.