Attack on Facilities: INEC summons emergency meeting

Hours after its local government offices in Ogun and Osun States were set ablaze by hoodlums, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has summoned an emergency meeting of the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES) for Friday 11th, November 2023.

In a statement on Thursday, INEC’s National Commissioner & Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, Festus Okoye, said with just 106 days to the 2023 General Election when the Commission has commenced the movement of materials to its offices nationwide, the simultaneous attacks on its facilities are very worrisome.

“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, ” Okoye said.

“The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) for Ogun State, Dr. Niyi Ijalaiye, reported that our office in Abeokuta South Local Government Area was attacked and set ablaze. The incident occurred around 1.15am when some unidentified persons overpowered the security personnel on duty and set the entire building ablaze.

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“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, reported that our office in Ede South Local Government Area was attacked and set ablaze.

“The incident occurred in the early hours of this morning when some unidentified persons attacked the building and set a portion of it ablaze. Fortunately, the damage to our Ede South Local Government was limited to a section of the building and only some furniture items were destroyed.

“The attention of the Nigeria Police Force and other security and safety agencies has been drawn to the incidents and they have commenced investigation.

“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.