Oyibo Chukwu: Enugu East senatorial contest goes from three-horse race to one-party show

Following the suspected assassination of candidate of the popular Labour Party (LP) in the Enugu East senatorial election slated for this Saturday, February 25, the contest has now been dragged from a three-horse race to a one-party show.

LP’s candidate in the Enugu East Senatorial elections, Barrister Oyibo Chukwu was reportedly assassinated, Wednesday, barely three days to the February 25 Presidential and National Assembly poll in the country.

The incident occurred at Amechi Awkunanaw, in the Enugu South Local Government Area, Wednesday evening.

While the State Police Command is yet to confirm the incident through its spokesperson, DSP Daniel Ndukwe, a trending and viral video has already surfaced, Thursday, showing sympathizers surrounding the suspected remains of the politician inside his already burnt car.

Eyewitness account claim Barrister Chukwu was shot dead and his body burnt inside the car by his assailants.

An unverified video on social media showed a man burnt inside a campaign vehicle with people around the scene crying.

Governorship candidate of the Labour Party, Chijioke Edeoga, who also confirmed the incident, said the gunmen shot him inside his vehicle with five other people with him and set the car ablaze.

“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.

“Our party members are being targeted for assassination by political parties that felt threatened by the rise of the Labour Party in the state and are afraid they may lose the Saturday’s election.”

Chukwu is vying for the Enugu East senatorial ticket against Ada Ogbu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as his main rival.

His exit leaves only Ada Ogbu to prosecute the election this Saturday, as the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) is not considered a strong party in the state, traditionally controlled by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

However, the former state governor, Chimaroke Nnamani who was previously in the race seeking re-election to the senate, was expelled by his party, the ruling (PDP in the state for anti-party activities, earlier this February.

Nnamani who has already filed a suit against his expulsion by the PDP at the court, currently represents Enugu East Senatorial Zone at the 9th Assembly of the Senate.

The ruling PDP in Enugu State has further confirmed it does not have a candidate ahead of the February 25 the state’s East Senatorial Zone election, this Saturday.

Failure of the party to field a candidate in its traditional stronghold state also means the party will not for the first time since 1999 not be contesting the poll for the Enugu East senatorial seat.

The absence of the PDP at one of the three senatorial seats in the state follows the expulsion of former State Governor, Chimaroke Nnamani who was sacked by the party’s national hierarchy over anti-party activities, having been accused of canvassing votes for the APC Presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu ahead of the 2023 polls.

Reacting to the development, former National Auditor of the PDP, Barr. Ray Nnaji, confirmed that following Nnamani’s expulsion, PDP has no candidate for the Enugu East Senate position.

Nnaji further stated that it is not a matter of Electoral Act, ‘it’s a constitutional matter. The constitution says for one to contest for any electoral position, he must belong to a political party.’

Continuing, Nnaji said: “There is no room for a private candidate. So, by virtue of that expulsion, Chimaroke is not qualified to contest election.

“He also has no business at the Senate as it stands. The party should move to declare his seat vacant because he has no party as a Senator.”

In his expulsion letter dated February 10, this year, signed by the National Secretary of PDP, Sen. Samuel Anyanwu; “the (National Working Committee) NWC of the party has after a very extensive review and consideration of the affairs of our Party in the country, pursuant to the provisions of the PDP Constitution (as amended in 2017) approved the suspension of Senator Chimaroke Nnamani (Enugu State) with effect from today, Friday, January 20, 2023, over allegations of anti-party activities”.