The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has summoned an emergency security meeting following attacks on its offices in South-West Nigeria.
The Quest Times reports that INEC offices in Ogun and Osun states were attacked in the early hours of Thursday, with 65,699 uncollected PVCs lost in the Ogun office inferno.
The meeting was disclosed in a statement released by INEC National Commissioner, Information and Voter Education Committee, Barr. Festus Okoye on Thursday.
The statement reads, “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”, he stated.
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The statement revealed that the attack occurred around 1:15 am when some unknown individuals overpowered the security personnel on duty and set the entire building ablaze.
“Items lost include 904 ballot boxes, 29 voting cubicles, 30 megaphones, 57 election bags, 8 electric power generators and 65,699 uncollected Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs)”, he stated.
Also Dr. Mutiu Agboke, the Resident Electoral Commissioner for Osun State, disclosed that the INEC office in Ede South Local Government Area was also set ablaze.
According to the INEC REC, the attack took place in the early hours of Thursday, but fortunately, no sensitive materials were lost
“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 an 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 the 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”, he stated.