PHOTOS: One dead, others injured as crisis rocks UPP primary election in Awka • Chudi Ofodile withdraws (Warning! Graphic content)

A United Progressive Party ward chairman from Owerre Ezukala ward 1 has been confirmed dead at the ongoing primary election of the party in Awka.

According to a UPP delegate, Peter Okolidoh who spoke to cfrmagazine.com on telephone, problem started when some delegates started a protest as a result of an alleged manipulated list.

The late UPP ward chairman

Some of the delegates claimed their names were missing from the list which triggered a protest that attracted the men of the Nigeria police who fired teargas to disperse them. A ward chairman from owerre Ezukala in Orumba South local government identified as Uwakwe Mmaduabukwu collapsed immediately and died. All efforts to revive him proved abortive. Many others were reportedly injured.

"UPP primaries turns bloody as Uwakwe Maduabuchi, the ward chairman of Owerre Ezukala ward 1 is confirmed dead as a result of police brutality.

"This ward chairman was protesting the shortchanging of his ward executives by the National leadership of the party.

"I don't know what else to say. Tears is all over my eyes as the crop of retarded old men that parade as leaders in Igboland are not only shameless, they're are evil and money gluttons," Mr Okolidoh said.

Few hours ago, one of the major candidates of the party, Hon. Chudi Ofodile withdrew from the race. He made this known through his social media accounts without further details.

"I have withdrawn from the UPP governorship race," he wrote.

Meanwhile the UPP primary election is ongoing as at the time of filing this report at Emaus Awka, Anambra state.