Ben Ezechime, Enugu
The Labour Party (LP), Enugu State chapter has confirmed the gruesome murder of Oyibo Chukwu, the Senatorial candidate of the party for Enugu East Senatorial district.
Barrister Casmir Agbo, State Chairman of the party who lamented over the sad situation confirmed the assassination over the telephone in Enugu.
“It’s true my brother. Just yesterday (Wednesday) evening. It’s a terrible situation,” he said.
Agbo suggested that the incident might not be unconnected with the rising profile of the LP in the state which is sending jitters into the spines of the ruling PDP.
According to him, it is an unfortunate and painful incident.
Also speaking, Mr Norbert Okolo, Media Aide to the Deputy Governorship candidate of the party, Dr John Nwokeabia, said Chukwu was burnt in his branded vehicle alongside five of his aides.
“This is terrible. It is very fearful. People should be very careful this time because you don’t know who are responsible,” he said.
He told Ikengaonline that it was now dangerous to move around in branded vehicles.
A security expert, who spoke to Ikengaonline on the condition of anonymity expressed shock over the incident but cautioned people not to apportion blames too early.
However, he cautioned against blaming political opponents, saying that a third force might be on a different mission.
“It’s too early to say who did this or that, because you don’t know those responsible.
“My advice is that police should go into intelligence gathering as quickly as possible, while people should be extremely careful,” he said.
Also on Wednesday, a branded vehicle belonging to the House of Representatives candidate for Enugu North/South Federal Constituency, Mr Offor Chukwuegbo was also set ablaze with the driver by unknown persons.
The incident happened at Topland area of Amaechi Awkunanaw area of Enugu.
Chukwuegbo is a second term member of the House of Representatives and currently contesting for third term on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Ikengaonline recalls that a group belonging to factional ESN leader, Simon Ekpa had earlier placed an embargo on election in the South-East region.
