INEC Shifts Enugu East Senatorial Poll To March 11

BY ONYEKACHUKWU IBEZIM – Following the death of Labour Party (LP) candidate, Barrister Oyibo Chukwu on Wednesday, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has postponed the conduct of senatorial election in Enugu East from February 25 to March 11, 2023.

The election is now scheduled to hold alongside the governorship and House of Assembly elections in the State on the new date.

Oyibo, the LP’s senatorial flag bearer was killed by unknown gunmen just three days to the Saturday’s National Assembly poll.

The candidate and his personal assistant were attacked and killed by hoodlums who set their vehicle ablaze in the Eke-Otu Amechi-Awkunanaw area of Enugu. Unfortunately, some other persons also died in the attack.

Speaking on the development, Labour Party Chairman, Enugu State chapter, Hon Casmir Agbo, informed reporters that following Oyibo’s death, they wrote to the Party’s national headquarters in Abuja.

According to him; “INEC advised us and we met and wrote to INEC Abuja through our Party’s National Headquarters in line with Section 33 and 34. The party has 14 days to nominate another candidate for substitution.

“In line with the Electoral Act, we have done what we ought to do and yesterday INEC cancelled the election. We will hold our primary election in the next 14 days,” Agbo said.

Meanwhile, INEC Chairman, Mahmood Yakubu, told journalists in Abuja on Friday that the poll in the district, which covers six local government areas, was shifted to the new date following the party’s request to provide a replacement and go ahead with the poll at the new date.

Mallam Yakubu said; “The party also 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, Sub-Section 1 of the Electoral Act 2022.”

“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″, the INEC boss said