At least, 748 ballot boxes, 240 voting cubicles, office furniture and equipment have been destroyed in Enugu in a midnight attacks on the office of the Independent National Electoral Commission.
INEC’s Director of Voter Education, Festus Okoye, said 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.
He said despite fire officials sent from Nsukka, the office was razed down.
He said the report was sent in by the Resident Electoral Commissioner for Enugu State, Mr. Emeka Ononamadu, who said the incident happened at Igboeze North Local Government Area office.
He said the attack took place at 11.48pm on Sunday 3rd July 2022.
“The arsonists overpowered the security guards, forced their way into the premises and set the building ablaze. Although no casualties were reported,” he stated
He siad the attack has come in the middle of the voter registration exercise and other preparations for 2023 General Election, describing it as “worrisome.”
“It will be recalled that on 23rd May 2021, our office in the neighbouring Igboeze South Local Government Area was attacked in a similar manner by unknown gunmen.
“This followed earlier attacks on Udenu Local Government Area office on 13th May 2021 and the State Headquarters in Enugu on 16th May 2021. The Commission has since substantially recovered from these attacks and resumed normal activities there, including the CVR and collection of PVCs,” Okoye said