Enugu LG Poll: PDP chieftain slumps, dies after speaking at a campaign rally in Nsukka

Moses Oyediran, Enugu

A former Public Relations Officer of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Nsukka Local Government Area of Enugu state at the weekend slumped and died at a campaign rally for the November 4, 2017 Local Government election.

Daily Times reports that the deceased, Mike Ugwuneze, also a onetime chairman of the party at Akpa Edem, ward slumped and was taken to a hospital after promising total support of his people for the PDP candidates at the chairmanship and councillorship rally only to be pronounced dead few minutes after.

An eyewitness who was closed to the scene of the incident but preferred to be anonymous said Ugwuneze was still in the company of other party loyalists from the area after his speech when he suddenly collapsed and was rushed to an undisclosed hospital.

“They had barely taken the microphone from him when he suddenly collapsed,” he said.

The incident which caused panic among PDP members at the rally temporarily came to a halt while the chairmanship candidate for Nsukka LGA, Chief Patrick Omeje later took the microphone and turned the campaign into a prayer rally.

Our correspondent gathered that the news of the death of Mr. Ugwuneze initially began as a rumour but was later confirmed to be true at the palace of the traditional ruler of Akpa Edem community, Igwe Boniface Eze, where the PDP candidate and all party supporters had gone for entertainment.

When contacted for comment on the incident, the secretary of Omeje campaign organization, Hon. Oliver Ajibo said it was shocking how the deceased slumped at the rally only to be informed that he passed on while trying to resuscitate him at the hospital.

On whether the campaign will go on as schedule or put off temporarily as a mark of respect to the deceased.

The secretary said the campaign would go will the party await official information from the family.

“The Okaigbo n’Igbo campaign organization for the November 4, local government election would go while we await a former statement from the family of our former and respected PRO and chairman of Akpa Ozzi ward.

“Ugwuneze was an active member of the party for several years, we will accord him respect due him when the time come,’’ he said.