Younger brother of late Chukwu emerges Enugu East senatorial candidate for March 11 poll

Labour Party (LP) has picked younger brother of late Barrister Oyibo Chukwu as its candidate for the rescheduled March 11 Enugu East senatorial district election coming up on Saturday, March 11.

The rescheduled poll will run alongside the governorship and state Houses of Assembly elections also fixed for same day, nationwide.

Kelvin Chibuzor Chukwu emerged the LP senatorial candidate for Enugu East Senatorial district after defeating other aspirants during the party’s fresh primary poll, who included Mr Uchenna Ogbodo, Mr Chinedu Nneji and Sir Chinyeaka Ohaa to emerge victorious.

It would be recalled that INEC had, last Thursday, confirmed March 11 as new date for the conduct of the postponed Enugu East senatorial district, as well as, the Esan West and Igueben Federal Constituencies’ elections.

The Enugu East senatorial district elections was originally fixed for last Saturday, February 25 but shifted following the assassination of the LP candidate, Barrister Oyibo Chukwu, barely three days to the election.

Announcing the results in the primary observed by two officials from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Sunday in Enugu, the LP National Vice Chairman (South-East), Chief Innocent Okeke, said that Kelvin Chukwu polled a total of 223 votes while the other aspirants received none.

Chukwu will now fly the party’s flag at the rescheduled senatorial poll which holds March 11.

A statement, last Thursday, confirming the new date for the Enugu East polls, was issued by INEC’s National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, Festus Okoye,

“The Commission held its regular weekly meeting today, Thursday, March 2 and deliberated on several issues, including the Presidential and National Assembly elections, the Governorship and State Assembly elections and the pending elections in Enugu East Senatorial District and the Esan West and Igueben Federal Constituencies in Edo State.

“The Commission assures Nigerians that the Governorship and State House of Assembly elections scheduled for Saturday, March 11 2023 will hold as scheduled and all the process and procedures leading to the election are being finalised.  

“Furthermore, the commission will conduct the rescheduled elections in Enugu and Edo State on Saturday, 11^th March 2023 along with the Governorship and State Assembly elections,” the statement read.

The younger Chukwu will battle for the senatorial seat with former governor of the state, Chimaroke Nnamani of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) who is technically out of the race following his expulsion by his party in February, this year.

Chukwu will also vie with Ada Ogbu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the senatorial seat.

Though, Nnamani has since approached the court for its ruling, the PDP has insisted the former governor and incumbent senator representing the senatorial district remains expelled from the party, as it stated that it has not candidate in the polls.

Former National Auditor of the PDP, 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.’

“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,” Nnaji said.

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”.

Barrister Chukwu was 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.

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 LP in Enugu State, 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.”