A Nigerian senatorial candidate was shot dead and his body was burned by assailants on his way home from a campaign rally in the southern state of Enugu on Wednesday.
The death of Labour Party member Oyibo Chukwu occurred three days before Saturday’s general elections, which are being billed as the country’s most competitive polls in 24 years.
Local media reports that his aides were also shot dead before their car was set on fire with their bodies inside.
“Our party members are being targeted for assassination by political parties that feel threatened by the rise of the Labour Party in the state and are afraid they will lose the election on Saturday,” said Chijioke Edeoga, a candidate for the state governor’s seat.
The Labour Party has not commented on the attack, but its presidential candidate Peter Obi has been urging supporters to vote “correctly, peacefully, and hopefully”.
