The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has decried two disturbing reports of attacks on its Local Government offices in Ogun and Osun States.
National Commissioner and Chairman Information and Voter Education Committee, Festus Okoye in a statement said the Commission on Thursday received reports from the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) for Ogun State, Dr. Niyi Ijalaiye, that INEC office in Abeokuta South Local Government Area was attacked and set ablaze.
The incident was reported to have occurred around 1.15am when some unidentified persons overpowered the security personnel on duty and set the entire building ablaze.
According to the statement, the main building and all the Commission’s movable assets in the office were destroyed. They include 904 ballot boxes, 29 voting cubicles, 30 megaphones, 57 election bags, 8 electric power generators and 65,699 uncollected Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs).
Similarly, the Resident Electoral Commissioner for Osun State, Dr. Mutiu Agboke, also reported that the INEC office in Ede South Local Government Area was attacked and set ablaze in the early hours of Thursday morning.
Okoye however said the damage to the INEC office in Ede South Local Government was limited to a section of the building and only some furniture items were destroyed.
INEC disclosed that the attention of the Nigeria Police Force and other security and safety agencies has been drawn to the incidents and they have commenced investigation.
“With just 106 days to the 2023 General Election when the Commission has commenced the movement of materials to our offices nationwide, these simultaneous attacks are very worrisome indeed.
“Similarly, 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.
“Accordingly, the Commission has convened an emergency meeting of the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES) tomorrow Friday 11th November 2023 to discuss the disturbing trend”.Okoye said.
