The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), has said it lost some non-sensitive materials to the fresh attack on its office at Idemili South Local Government Area of Anambra.
The materials, the INEC said, were recently delivered to the facility in preparation for this month’s presidential election.
“The building was substantially damaged. All furniture and other items were destroyed, including non-sensitive materials recently delivered in readiness for the 2023 General Election,” Festus Okoye, INEC spokesman, stated on Wednesday in Abuja.
“Among the items lost to the inferno are 729 ballot boxes, 243 voting cubicles, 256 election bags, 11 megaphones, 1 electric power generator, and large quantities of indelible ink and liquid gum,” Mr Okoye added.
Some yet-to-be-identified gunmen attacked INEC’s office in Ojoto at Idemili South LGA of Anambra in the wee hours of Wednesday.
The gun-wielding men also attacked the Nnobi police station and a residential building located also in the same council Area.
The hoodlums, who were reportedly armed with explosives (IEDs), petrol invaded the facilities at about 1:45 am on Wednesday, in four unmarked Sienna vehicles, and attacked the facility.
But speaking further, Mr Okoye said the attack on the INEC was coordinated given the nature of destruction on the facility of the commission.
He added that the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), in Anambra, Queen Elizabeth Agwu, told the National headquarters of the Commission that the INEC’s office in Idemili South LGA was set ablaze by the gunmen after the dastardly attack.
“However, uncollected Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVCs) kept in the fireproof cabinet were not affected by the inferno.
“Similarly, no sensitive materials have been delivered to the LGA office. The destruction appears to have been coordinated as the Nnobi Police Station in the LGA was similarly attacked,” Mr Okoye quoted the Anambra REC.
He, however, promised that the commission was already making contingency arrangements to replace the materials in preparation for the general elections in the affected area.
