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Politics of Friday, 14 May 2021

Source: www.sunnewsonline.com

Spate of fire incidents affecting preparations for electoral activities, INEC laments

Independent National Electoral Commission Independent National Electoral Commission

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has lamented that the increasing spate of fire incidents in some of its offices across the states will pose a setback to its preparations for upcoming electoral activities.

Reacting to the inferno at its office in Udenu Local Government Area of Enugu State on Thursday this week, the Commission said it was the third incident in three States in less than two weeks.

In a statement signed by National Commissioner and Chairman Information and Voter Education Committee, Festus Okoye, the Commission emphasized that the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES) will meet next week to discuss the disturbing trend.

It further noted that though no casualties were reported, however, the office building was extensively damaged while electoral materials and office equipment were destroyed in spite of the best efforts of the Enugu State Fire Service to contain the inferno.

The Commission also stressed that the latest destruction of the Commission’s physical infrastructure and electoral facilities in Enugu State calls for an immediate review of the measures necessary to secure INEC’s assets across the States.

Consequently, the Commission disclosed that it is convening an emergency meeting with all the Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs) on Wednesday next week in Abuja ahead of the meeting of ICCES.

“The spate of fire incidents involving the facilities of INEC in some states of the federation has unfortunately persisted. This time around, it is Enugu State, where the Resident Electoral Commissioner for the State, Emeka Ononamadu, has reported that the INEC office in Udenu Local Government Area was set ablaze.

“The latest tragic incident occurred around 8.40 pm on Thursday, May 13, 2021. No casualties were reported. However, the office building was extensively damaged while electoral materials and office equipment were destroyed in spite of the best efforts of the Enugu State Fire Service to contain the inferno.“The Commission appreciates the intervention of the Fire Service.

The attention of the Police has been drawn to this yet another very worrisome development for investigation. This is the third incident involving INEC’s Local Government offices in three States in less than two weeks.“First, there was the destruction of the office in Essien Udim LGA of Akwa Ibom State on 2nd May 2021. This was followed by the fire at the Ohafia LGA office in Abia State on 9th May 2021.

This is yet another setback to the Commission’s ongoing activities and preparations for upcoming electoral activities.“Following the attack in Abia State, the Commission resolved to convene an emergency meeting of the ICCES next week to discuss this disturbing trend. The latest destruction of the Commission’s physical infrastructure and electoral facilities in Enugu State calls for an immediate review of the measures necessary to secure INEC’s assets across the States.

“Consequently, the Commission is convening an emergency meeting with all the RECs on Wednesday May 19, 2021, in Abuja ahead of the meeting of ICCES,” INEC noted in the statement.

Meanwhile, the Commission however assured that; “it is determined to continue to discharge its responsibilities, including the conclusion of the expansion of voters’ access to Polling Units, resumption of the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR), capacity-building activities, the review of the draft Strategic Plan 2022-2026, engagement with stakeholders as well as all scheduled and pending elections.”