The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has suspended the election in Enugu East Senatorial District following the assassination of Oyibo Chukwu, the Labour Party candidate, in the exercise that was previously scheduled to hold on February 25.

Electoral chief Mahmood Yakubu said during a press briefing in Abuja on Friday afternoon that the election in Enugu East will now hold on March 11. 

“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,” Mr Yakubu said. “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 Labour, which informed INEC of the passing of its candidate, is expected to present another candidate before the new date to replace Mr Chukwu, who was shot dead and his remains set alight in Agbani on Wednesday evening. 

The legal practitioner was the main rival to Senator Chimaroke Nnamani of the Peoples Democratic Party, who has himself been facing legal battles that threaten his eligibility following his suspension from the PDP. 

A spokesman for Labour did not immediately return a request seeking comments about whether or not the party has commenced efforts to find a replacement for Mr Chukwu.