The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has said that the conduct of election for Enugu East Senatorial District will now take place on March 11, 2023.
INEC chairman, Mahmood Yakubu, announced the suspension of the senatorial district election on Friday during a media briefing at the national collation centre in Abuja following the death of the Labour Party candidate, Oyibo Chukwu.
“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.”
Yet to be identified gunmen on Wednesday killed Oyibo Chukwu and set him ablaze along with one occupant in his car at Amechi Awkunanaw in Enugu South LGA.