INEC postpone Enugu East senatorial election

The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has suspended the election for Enugu East Senatorial District.

INEC Chairman, Mahmood Yakubu announced the postponement at a media briefing in Abuja on Friday.

He said the election which covers six local government areas has been moved to March 11, 2023, same date as the governorship elections.

Recall that the Labour Party candidate for the senatorial district Oyibo Chukwu and his personal assistant were assassinated and their vehicle was set ablaze by unknown gunmen.

Mr Yakubu disclosed that the Labour Party had reached out to the commission to convey its intention to provide a replacement and go ahead with the poll at the new date.

He said: “The party also conveyed its intention to participate in the election for that constituency by replacing its deceased candidate. This request is in line with the provision of the law – Section 34, Sub-Section 1 of the Electoral Act 2022.

“The Labour Party has provided satisfactory evidence of the death of its candidate. Consequently, the commission has suspended the election in the Senatorial district as provided by law.

“We have already communicated this decision to our Enugu State office.

“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.”

He, however, said the electoral materials for the election in the senatorial district would remain in the custody of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, till the new date.