PVCs, Other Properties Destroyed As Arsonists Set Ablaze INEC Office In Ebonyi

Suspected arsonists have set ablaze the office of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Iboko, Izzi Local Government Area of Ebonyi State.

In a statement on Sunday signed by INEC Spokesman, Festus Okoye, the Commission said the office was set ablaze around 10am by unidentified persons.

Okoye said the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) for Ebonyi state, Onyeka Ugochi, reported the incident to the headquarters of the commission.

The INEC Commissioner for Voter Education disclosed that the main building and all the movable and immovable items inside it were destroyed by the fire.

He said 340 ballot boxes, 130 voting cubicles, 14 electric power generators, large water storage tanks, assorted office furniture, and yet-to-be-determined quantities of Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVCs) were destroyed in the fire incident.

Okoye, however, said no casualties resulted from the attack, adding that the Nigeria Police Force and other security agencies have commenced an investigation into the matter.

The statement reads: “Although no casualties resulted from the attack, the main building and all the movable and immovable items inside it were destroyed.

“These include 340 ballot boxes, 130 voting cubicles, 14 electric power generators, large water storage tanks, assorted office furniture and fixtures, and yet-to-be-determined quantities of Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVCs).

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

“Sadly, this is the third attack on our Local Government office in less than three weeks following similar attacks on our offices in Ogun and Osun States on 10th November 2022.”

Naija News recalls that in November, the Commission’s office in Abeokuta South LGA of Ogun state was gutted by fire.

A total of 65,699 uncollected PVCs, 904 ballot boxes, 29 voting cubicles, 30 megaphones, 57 election bags, and eight electric power generators were destroyed in the fire.

The commission, at the time, had said that one of its offices in Osun was attacked and set ablaze.