A Nigerian Senatorial Candidate is Shot Dead and His Body Burned

A senatorial candidate in Nigeria was shot dead on Wednesday and his body set on fire by assailants as he was leaving a campaign meeting in the southern state of Enugu.

The attack on Oyibo Chukwu of the Labor Party happened three days before Saturday's general election which is said to be the most competitive election in the country in the past 24 years.

His assistants who were with him were also shot dead before their car was set on fire with the bodies inside, local media reports.

"Members of our party are targeted to be killed by political parties who felt threatened by the rise of the Labor Party in the state and they fear that they may lose in Saturday's election," said Chijioke Edeoga, a gubernatorial candidate in the state.

The Labor Party has not commented on the attack, but its presidential candidate Peter Obi has been urging his supporters to vote "correctly, peacefully and with hope".