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Akinwande Soji-Ojo
Kelvin Chukwu, younger brother of late Oyibo Chukwu, has been elected as the new Labour Party (LP) candidate for Enugu East Senatorial District.
Oyibo was killed and set ablaze by unknown gunmen at Amechi Awkunanaw, in Enugu South Local Government Area on February 23, after gunmen opened fire on his convoy.
Five of his supporters were also killed in the incident.
Following the murder Oyibo, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) chairman, Prof Mahmood Yakubu, announced the suspension of the election for the senatorial district and rescheduled it to March 11.
In a fresh party primary conducted on Sunday, Innocent Okeke, the Labour Party chairman in the South East, declared Kelvin as the winner.
He said Kelvin garnered 223 votes to defeat Uchenna Ogbodo, Chinedu Nneji and Christian Onyeni.
Speaking after the announcement, Kelvin promised to fulfill the dreams of his late brother and make the people of Enugu East Senatorial District proud.
He said the family is yet to recover from how Oyibo was gruesomely shot and burnt alongside his personal aide.
The state chairman of Labour Party, Casmir Agbo praised the 231 delegates in the senatorial zone for their resilience and support.