The Independent National Electoral Commission has reported that its office in Igboeze North Local Government Area of Enugu State has been set ablaze by hoodlums.

 

The attack happened at 11:48 pm on Sunday July 3, 2022, INEC said on Monday in a statement signed by its National Commissioner for Information and Voter Education Committee, Festus Okoye. The statement was titled ‘Attack on INEC office in Enugu State’.

 

Okoye disclosed that the attackers overpowered security personnel guarding the office, and forced their way into the premises before setting the building on fire.

 

Although no casualties were recorded in the attack, INEC noted however that 748 ballot boxes and 240 voting cubicles, as well as office furniture and equipment, were destroyed by the arsonists.

 

INEC is currently undertaking voter registration as part of the preparations for Nigeria’s 2023 general elections. The exercise was billed to end by June 30, 2022, but the commission had to extend it following a public outcry for more time to enable unregistered Nigerians to be captured in the programme.

 

 “The Resident Electoral Commissioner for Enugu State, M. Emeka Onanamadu, reported that our Igboeze North Local Government Area office was set ablaze by unknown arsonists. The attack happened at 11:48 pm on Sunday 3rd July 2022,’ the statement said.

 

“The arsonists overpowered the security guards, forced their way into the premises, and set the building ablaze. Although no casualties were reported, 48 ballot boxes, 240 voting cubicles, office furniture and equipment were destroyed in spite of the best effort of the Enugu State Fire Service deployed from Nsukka.”

 

INEC added that as of the time it issued the statement, it was yet to ascertain the status of voter registration machines as well as the Permanent Voter Cards locked up in the fireproof cabinet in the affected building.

 

“The Commission is working to ascertain the status of voter registration machines for the ongoing Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise as well as uncollected Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs) locked up in the fireproof cabinet,” it noted.

 

The commission disclosed that it suffered similar attacks on its offices in the Igboeze South and Udeni Local Government Areas, and its Enugu State Headquarters in May last year.