Oyibo Chukwu, a Labour senatorial candidate, was on Wednesday evening shot dead in Enugu, witnesses said in a video sent to Peoples Gazette.

Mr Chukwu, a barrister, was killed while on a campaign movement around Agbani in the state, reports said. No group immediately claimed responsibility for the attack, which reportedly claimed other people in the campaign van. It was unclear how many people were in the vehicle. 

All the victims were reportedly burnt alongside the candidate. A spokesman for the police in Enugu did not immediately return a request seeking comments. 

The incident came as Nigerians were preparing for presidential and parliamentary elections on Saturday, during which Mr Chukwu was seen among the top contenders on the back of Labour presidential candidate Peter Obi’s rising popularity.