Labour Party House of Assembly aspirant in Ebonyi, Leonard Kelechi Nwali has confessed to the assassination of a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain, Peter Nweke over a local contest in the state.
Nweke was arrested among three other persons who admitted to the murder of the PDP Chieftain.
The police confirmed that Nweke was tortured to death by hoodlums suspected to be loyalists of a rival party on March 18, 2023, the day of the Governorship and House of Assembly Elections in the state.
Nwali’s confession shocked many and sparked outrage. However, the Labour Party, its presidential candidate, Peter Obi and online supporters are yet to speak on the murder perpetrated by a member and an aspirant of the party.
The party, its presidential candidate and supporters are known to stand up to issues connected with social injustice and electoral crimes, such that their long-drawn silence over the murder by one of its own lieutenants has raised further questions on their purported values.
Speaking further on the matter, the police said that during the interrogation of the suspects, Nwali confessed to hiring the assailants as the late Nweke posed a threat to his political ambition.
The statement reads, “The first suspect, Leonard Kelechi Nwali, a Labour Party House of Assembly aspirant, Ezza North Constituency, confessed to hiring the assailants who were meant to torture the late Peter Nweke. However, he died in the process. According to him, the late Peter Nweke posed a threat to his political ambition, so he contacted one Akwasi of Umuezeoka, in Ezza North LGA, who spearheaded the torture that eventually resulted in the death of Mr Peter Nweke.
“The second suspect, Onyebuchi Chita, of Nkomoro community, in the same local government area, confessed to have brought in the killers from Nkomoro into Ogboji community, where Peter Nweke was killed.
“The third suspect, Aloke Obinna, of Ogboji community, confessed to have given his motorcycle to one Onyebuchi Chita for escape after the incident.
“While Ifeanyi Nwokpuku, the fourth suspect, of Ogboji community in Ezza North LGA, conspired with one Sampson Nweke, who pointed Peter Nweke out to the killers.”
Onovwakpoyeya said the suspects would be arraigned at the end of investigation.