Outburst of violence in southwest, thugs burn INEC office in Ogun, Osun

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Thursday raised alarm over outburst of political violence in Ogun State, decrying attacks on INEC offices in Abeokuta South Local Government Area, including INEC office in Ede South Local Government Area of Osun State.

INEC in a statement on Thursday by the National Commissioner, Chairman
Information and Voter Education Committee, Festus Okoye Esq., declared: “This morning, the Commission received two disturbing reports of attacks on our Local Government offices in Ogun and Osun States.

“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.”

INEC narrated that the incident occurred around 1.15am when some unidentified persons overpowered the security personnel on duty and set the entire building ablaze.

Okoye noted that 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),” said Okoye.

INEC also stated that the Resident Electoral Commissioner for Osun State, Dr. Mutiu Agboke, reported that the office in Ede South Local Government Area was attacked and set ablaze.

The incident, INEC said, occurred in the early hours of this morning when some unidentified persons attacked the building and set a portion of it ablaze.

The commission noted that fortunately, the damage to our Ede South Local Government was limited to a section of the building and only some furniture items were destroyed.

INEC declared: 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.”