After a rally, an Ecuadorian presidential candidates was murdered.

Fernando Villavicencio, a 59-year-old anti-corruption crusader who had complained of receiving threats, was murdered as he was leaving a stadium in Quito after holding a campaign rally, officials said.

Lasso declared a two-month state of emergency early Thursday following the assassination but said general elections slated for August 20 would be held as scheduled.

“Outraged and shocked by the assassination of presidential candidate Fernando Villavicencio,” the president said in a statement on X, formerly known as Twitter, blaming the killing on “organised crime.”

"I assure you that this crime will not go unpunished in honor of his memory and his struggle."

Recent opinion polls indicated that Villavicencio was the second most popular contender in the presidential election.

In a YouTube address, Lasso declared that "the Armed Forces as of this moment are mobilized throughout the national territory to ensure the security of citizens, the tranquility of the nation, and the free and democratic elections of August 20."

Three days of national mourning have also been designated by the president "to honor the memory of a patriot, Fernando Villavicencio Valencia."

He continued, "We do not doubt that this murder is an attempt to damage the electoral process. This is a political crime that acquires a terrorist aspect.

Lasso has declared he won't run for office again.

Diana Atamaint, president of the National Electoral Council, stated: "The date of the elections scheduled for August 20 remains unalterable."

A candidate for the national legislature and two policemen were among the nine other victims of the incident, according to the prosecution.

Security forces shot and killed one of the accused attackers. According to top investigator Alain Luna, authorities also exploded an explosive device that had been installed nearby.