The police in Ebonyi has confirmed the killing of Peter Nweke, chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ezza North Local Government Area of the state, during Saturday’s election.

Onome Onovwakpoyeya, the state police public relations officer, said this when he spoke with journalists on Sunday in Abakaliki, the state capital.

Ms Onovwakpoyeya said that the deceased was beaten to death by suspected thugs during the election.

“The DPO and his team tried to rescue him, but he was confirmed dead by doctors on duty when they got to the hospital,” she said.

Innocent Nomeh, a PDP chieftain and a resident of the area, said the deceased was killed after being threatened by some thugs.

Mr Nomeh, also a PDP House of Assembly candidate for the Ezza North constituency, described the incident as shocking and barbaric.

“Some hours after being threatened, they traced him and took him to an isolated area, where they killed him.

“It is so unfortunate that such a young man will die because of the election. I want the security agencies to deepen investigations to fish out, whoever was involved in the killing,” he said. 

(NAN)