The Facts
Oyibo Chukwu, a senatorial candidate from Nigeria's opposition Labor Party in southeastern Enugu State, was killed on Wednesday night by unknown gunmen, just hours after presidential candidates pledged a peaceful electoral process ahead of Saturday's vote.
Local police confirmed on Thursday that the politician was shot and burned in his campaign vehicle along with an unnamed personal aide. While investigations are still underway, police suspect attackers belong to banned Biafran separatist groups.
The Spin
Narrative A
This horrific assassination comes at a time when Chukwu was about to oust the incumbent senator for Enugu East, Chimaroke Nnamani, as his campaign was causing worries among local political moguls. Given the horrifying record of violence related to the now APC supporter Nnamani, it's no coincidence that the political climate in the state has reached a new low this week.
Narrative B
Although an investigation is still underway, the outlawed Indigenous People of Biafra group's fingerprints are all over these deadly simultaneous attacks against candidates from Nigeria's main political parties. This is an obvious attempt to spread terror among the nation and disrupt the electoral process ahead of Saturday's vote.
