LP calls for postponement of Enugu East senatorial election after candidate murdered
Osaretin Osadebamwen
The Labor Party has asked the Independent National Electoral Commission to postpone the Enugu East senatorial election scheduled for Saturday following the murder of its candidate, Hon. Oyibo Chukwu.
Chairman of the Labor Party, Barr. Julius Abure said the deceased was murdered and set on fire alongside five other party supporters who were in the vehicle with him, describing the killing as the culmination of attacks on party members and supporters
The Labor Party noted in a statement made available to the media that the death has become one too many following the continued attacks on its members across the country.
The statement reads in part: "Just 72 hours before the general election on February 25, 2023, our candidate for the senatorial district of Enugu East, the Honorable Oyibo Chukwu, was horribly murdered and his remains set on fire with his vehicle.
“The gunmen reportedly also killed five of his followers who were with him inside his car at Amechi Awkunanaw, Enugu South Local Government Area on Wednesday night.
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“It should be recalled that the campaigns and political activities of the Labor Party have been repeatedly attacked both in Enugu State and in several other states
"Labour's national leadership is disturbed by the level of attack on its candidates, officials and supporters across the country. We condemn the act and call on security officers to be aware of the case. It becomes a tradition where people attack our candidates all over the country.
“It should be recalled that our Senate candidate for Ebonyi South, Hon Linus Okorie was abducted on his way to his home in Ebonyi State on Sunday, October 16, 2022, allegedly by the South East Vigilante outfit, Ebubeagu. He was tortured, incarcerated and deprived of his basic human rights for weeks.
“I also want to recall what happened to our party in Anambra State when our candidate for Governor, Hon. Obiora Agbasimelo was kidnapped in the middle of the campaign and on time where I'm talking to you, we haven't heard from him anymore.
The Labor Party Chairman said: “This murder in Enugu State is the culmination of all of this. are insecure and are killed.
“The Labor Party is therefore calling on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to postpone the election in the Enugu East Senatorial District to allow us to hold a new primary and participate in the elections.
“Enugu State is one of the states where our party enjoys maximum support and our candidate is on course to win the senatorial seat of Enugu East in this election. 'INEC should not allow people to profit or win elections by any other means, including silencing a candidate loved by his people.
"We insist that this development, if allowed, will have major consequences for political development in Nigeria. No electoral victory is worth anyone's life; our institutions must not allow it becomes a standard.
"We therefore call on our party members and supporters in Enugu State to remain calm even in the face of this outrageous provocation and to abide by the law, as the party will do everything in its power to ensure that this murder is not swept under the rug.
“Let me also extend my condolences to the immediate family of the Honorable Oyibo Chukwu and the entire Labor Party family for this painful loss and I pray that God gives us the courage to bear this loss.< /p>
Nigerian Tribune may report that Section 34 of the Elections Act 2022 50} of the Elections Act 2022 Amended states that "If after the time limit for submission of nomination papers and before the commencement of polls, a candidate nominee dies, the Chief National Electoral Commissioner must be satisfied as a result of the death, cancel the ballot in which the deceased candidate was to take part and the Commission must fix another suitable date for the election within 14 days.
Subsection 2 further stated that “the voters list to be used in a postponed election is the official voters list that was to be used if the election had not been postponed.
The election also held in Article 34(3b) "in the event of an election to a legislative chamber, the election shall be recommenced and the political party whose candidate has died may, if it intends to continue to participate in the election, organize a new primary within 14 days of the death of its candidate and submit the name of a new candidate to the Commission to replace the deceased candidate...
The Labor Party has asked the Independent National Electoral Commission to postpone the Enugu East senatorial election scheduled for Saturday following the murder of its candidate, Hon. Oyibo Chukwu.
Chairman of the Labor Party, Barr. Julius Abure said the deceased was murdered and set on fire alongside five other party supporters who were in the vehicle with him, describing the killing as the culmination of attacks on party members and supporters
The Labor Party noted in a statement made available to the media that the death has become one too many following the continued attacks on its members across the country.
The statement reads in part: "Just 72 hours before the general election on February 25, 2023, our candidate for the senatorial district of Enugu East, the Honorable Oyibo Chukwu, was horribly murdered and his remains set on fire with his vehicle.
“The gunmen reportedly also killed five of his followers who were with him inside his car at Amechi Awkunanaw, Enugu South Local Government Area on Wednesday night.
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“It should be recalled that the campaigns and political activities of the Labor Party have been repeatedly attacked both in Enugu State and in several other states
"Labour's national leadership is disturbed by the level of attack on its candidates, officials and supporters across the country. We condemn the act and call on security officers to be aware of the case. It becomes a tradition where people attack our candidates all over the country.
“It should be recalled that our Senate candidate for Ebonyi South, Hon Linus Okorie was abducted on his way to his home in Ebonyi State on Sunday, October 16, 2022, allegedly by the South East Vigilante outfit, Ebubeagu. He was tortured, incarcerated and deprived of his basic human rights for weeks.
“I also want to recall what happened to our party in Anambra State when our candidate for Governor, Hon. Obiora Agbasimelo was kidnapped in the middle of the campaign and on time where I'm talking to you, we haven't heard from him anymore.
The Labor Party Chairman said: “This murder in Enugu State is the culmination of all of this. are insecure and are killed.
“The Labor Party is therefore calling on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to postpone the election in the Enugu East Senatorial District to allow us to hold a new primary and participate in the elections.
“Enugu State is one of the states where our party enjoys maximum support and our candidate is on course to win the senatorial seat of Enugu East in this election. 'INEC should not allow people to profit or win elections by any other means, including silencing a candidate loved by his people.
"We insist that this development, if allowed, will have major consequences for political development in Nigeria. No electoral victory is worth anyone's life; our institutions must not allow it becomes a standard.
"We therefore call on our party members and supporters in Enugu State to remain calm even in the face of this outrageous provocation and to abide by the law, as the party will do everything in its power to ensure that this murder is not swept under the rug.
“Let me also extend my condolences to the immediate family of the Honorable Oyibo Chukwu and the entire Labor Party family for this painful loss and I pray that God gives us the courage to bear this loss.< /p>
Nigerian Tribune may report that Section 34 of the Elections Act 2022 50} of the Elections Act 2022 Amended states that "If after the time limit for submission of nomination papers and before the commencement of polls, a candidate nominee dies, the Chief National Electoral Commissioner must be satisfied as a result of the death, cancel the ballot in which the deceased candidate was to take part and the Commission must fix another suitable date for the election within 14 days.
Subsection 2 further stated that “the voters list to be used in a postponed election is the official voters list that was to be used if the election had not been postponed.
The election also held in Article 34(3b) "in the event of an election to a legislative chamber, the election shall be recommenced and the political party whose candidate has died may, if it intends to continue to participate in the election, organize a new primary within 14 days of the death of its candidate and submit the name of a new candidate to the Commission to replace the deceased candidate...
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