INEC suspends senatorial election in Enugu East over murder of Chukwu

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The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has announced the suspension of the Enugu East Senatorial District election.

This is a result of the assassination of Oyibo Chukwu, the Labour Party candidate, in the exercise that was previously scheduled to hold on February 25.

INEC Chairman Mahmood Yakubu said during a press briefing in Abuja on Friday afternoon that the election in Enugu East will now hold on March 11.

“As a result, there will be no senatorial election tomorrow, February 25, 2023, in Enugu East Senatorial District, which consists of six local government areas, 77 wards, and 1,630 polling units,” Mr Yakubu said. “The election will now be combined with the governorship and state assembly elections held in the next two weeks, on March 11, 2023.”

The Labour Party, which informed INEC of the passing of its candidate, is expected to present another candidate before the new date to replace Mr Chukwu, who was shot dead and his remains set alight in Agbani on Wednesday evening.

The legal practitioner was the main rival to Senator Chimaroke Nnamani of the Peoples Democratic Party, who has himself been facing legal battles that threaten his eligibility following his suspension from the PDP.