A grassroots politician and ward chairman of the Young Progressives Party in Anambra State, Joe Moghalu, has been shot dead.

A member of the party representing Orumba North and Orumba South Federal Constituency of Anambra in the National Assembly, Mrs Chinwe Nnabuife, confirmed the report in Awka on Sunday

Mr Moghalu until his death was the ward chairman of the Young Progressives Party in Agbiligba Nanka.

He was shot in the leg and stomach shortly after a stakeholders’ meeting he organised for Nnabuife on Saturday ahead of the yet to be scheduled rerun election in the ward following ruling of the election petitions tribunal and Court of Appeal.

Mrs Nnabuife said they had a fruitful meeting and departed the venue barely one hour when the news of his murder reached her.

She described the murder of her supporter as “inhumane and devastating.’’

She said the deceased was rushed to a hospital in Adazi Ani which could not save him before he was moved to the teaching hospital, Nnewi, where he was confirmed dead.

“Yes, it was my ward chairman that was gunned down, it was not up to one hour after I left him following a stakeholders’ meeting I was called and they told he was shot dead.

“The tribunal and Court of Appeal had ruled that we should have a runoff election within 90 days and that is why we started mobilising and preparing.

“It is a black Sunday for me. He was killed in his own village by assailants who eyewitnesses said called him saboteur thrice while shooting him. The runoff is actually in that area.

“It is painful, they just killed a family man and a great political ally,” she said.

The state’s Commissioner of Police, Aderemi Adeoye, who confirmed the incident, said whoever was responsible for the killing would have a date with the law.

Mr Adeoye said, “We shall definitely follow it up and whoever is responsible for killing him will have a date with the hangman.’’

(NAN)