By Abimbola Ogunnaike
Three days to the Presidential and National Assembly elections, the Labour Party (LP) Senatorial Candidate for Enugu East Senatorial District, Prof Oyibo Chukwu has been murdered.
Thegazellenews.com gathered that he was set ablaze alongside with five other party members late Wednesday evening, 22 February, 2023, at Amaechi Awkunanaw, Enugu South Local Government Area of Enugu State.
Chukwu was killed at Amechi, Awkunanaw local government area of Enugu while returning from a campaign rally.He was murdered alongside five of supporters.
Unidentified persons were said to have accosted them while riding in a Sienna vehicle and set the vehicle ablaze. About five persons were said to have been affected.
The LP Governorship Candidate in the state, Chijioke Edeoga, confirmed the death of the politician, saying his party members are being targeted for assassination by political parties which felt threatened by the rise of the party in the state.
Similarly, a campaign vehicle belonging to a House of Representatives member, Hon. Offor Chukwuegbo was also said to have been set ablaze within the same axis. Chukwuegbo is the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), candidate for the Enugu North/South Federal Constituency.
As at the time of publishing this story, It is unclear the number of casualties recorded in the attack, but the driver of the mini-bus was reportedly killed.
The State police command is yet to issue a statement on the two incidents.
LP Presidential Candidate, Peter Obi, hails from South East, which has been a flashpoint, even before the election period.
Suspected militants have vowed to cripple election in the region but security forces have assured residents that they are on top of the situation.
