•••SAYS 65000 PVCs, 904 BALLOT BOXES BURNT IN ABEOKUTA OFFICE
The Indepndent National Electoral Commission has expressed worry over the growing attacks on its facilities as the 2023 general elections approaches.
The Commission has also convened an emergency meeting of the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security for Friday 11th November 2023 to discuss the disturbing trend.
National Commissioner and Chairman
Information and Voter Education Committee, Mr Festus Okoye, said on Thursday that the commission’s main building in Abeokuta South was destroyed.
Okoye said that 65,699 uncollected Permanent Voters Cards were destroyed in the inferno.
Okoye added that 904 ballot boxes, 29 voting cubicles, 30 megaphones, 57 election bags, 8 electric power generators were also destroyed by the fire.
He said that it is disturbing that simultaneous attacks on the commission’s offices are taking place “with just 106 days to the 2023 General Election when the Commission has commenced the movement of materials to our offices nationwide…”
He said, “This morning, the Commission received two disturbing reports of attacks on our Local Government offices in Ogun and Osun States.
“The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) for Ogun State, Dr. Niyi Ijalaiye, reported that our office in Abeokuta South Local Government Area was attacked and set ablaze.
“The incident occurred around 1.15am when some unidentified persons overpowered the security personnel on duty and set the entire building ablaze.” He added
He stated also that INEC office in Ede South Local Government Area of Osun State was also set ablaze by arsonists.
According to him “the incident occurred in the early hours of this morning when some unidentified persons attacked the building and set a portion of it ablaze.
“Fortunately, the damage to our Ede South Local Government was limited to a section of the building and only some furniture items were destroyed.
“The attention of the Nigeria Police Force and other security and safety agencies has been drawn to the incidents and they have commenced investigation.”
He stated also that “the rising incidents of attacks on supporters of various political parties since the commencement of campaign barely two months ago and the use of hate and incendiary language by some politicians are extremely disturbing.”
