The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has condemned in strong terms the attack on its facilities in Abeokuta South Local Government area of Ogun state and Ede South Local Government area of Osun state.
This was contained in a release signed by Barrister Festus Okoye Esq., the National Commissioner & Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee.
The Commission said it received reports of two disturbing attacks on its facilities in two Local Government offices in Ogun and Osun States in the early hours of Thursday, 10th November, 2023.
According to the Commission, the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) for Ogun State, Dr. Niyi Ijalaiye, reported that the Commission’s office in Abeokuta South Local Government Area was attacked and set ablaze, saying that the incident occurred around 1.15am when some unidentified persons overpowered the security personnel on duty and set the entire building ablaze.
“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 Commission also said that the Resident Electoral Commissioner for Osun State, Dr. Mutiu Agboke, reported of the attack on its office in Ede South Local Government Area.
The incident according to the Osun state REC, occurred in the early hours of Thursday morning when some unidentified persons attacked the building and set a portion of it ablaze.
Fortunately for the Commission, only a section of the building and some furniture items were destroyed in Ede South Local Government Area of Osun state.
The Commission in the release noted 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.
The Commission said that with just 106 days to the 2023 General Election when the Commission has commenced the movement of materials to its 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) on Friday 11th November 2023 to discuss the disturbing trend.
