The spate of incidents involving the facilities of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), in some states of the federation has unfortunately persisted. This time around, it is Enugu state where the Resident Electoral Commissioner of the state, Emeka Ononamdi has reported that INEC Local Government Office in Udenu Local Government Area was set ablaze.
According to the State’s Commissioner, the latest tragic incident occurred around 8:40 pm on Thursday 13th May 2021.
No casualties were recorded. However, the office building was extensively damaged while electoral materials and office equipment were destroyed despite the best efforts of the Enugu State Fire service to contain the inferno. The Commission appreciate the intervention of the fire service.
The setting ablaze of the INEC Local Government office in Enugu was also confirmed by the Commission’s National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, Festus Okoye, on Friday 14th May 2021.
In the statement released by Festus Okoye, he said the attention of the Police has been drawn to this yet another very worrisome development for investigation.
This is the third incident involving INEC Local Government offices in three states in less than two weeks.
First, there was the destruction of the office in Essien Udim Local government of Akwa Ibom state on 2nd May 2021, followed by the fire at the Ohafia Local government in Abia state on 9th May 2021.
“This is yet another setback to the Commission’s ongoing activities and preparations for upcoming electoral activities,” Festus Okoye said.
He continued:
“Following the attack in Abia state, the Commission resolved to convene an emergency meeting of the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES) next week to discuss this disturbing trend. This latest destruction of the Commission’s physical infrastructure and electoral facilities in Enugu state.
Consequently, the Commission is convening an emergency meeting with all the Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) on Wednesday 19th May 2021, in Abuja ahead of the meeting of ICCES.
Meanwhile, the Commission is determined to continue to discharge its respo9nsibility including the conclusion of the expansion of voters access to Polling units, resumption of the continuous voter registration, capacity building activities, the review of the draft strategic plan 2022-2026, engagement with stakeholders as well as all scheduled and pending elections,” he added.