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By Emmanuel Oloniruha
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has said that no critical election material was destroyed in the attack on its headquarters in Imo.
INEC National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, Mr Festus Okoye disclosed this in a statement on Monday in Abuja.
Okoye said the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) for Imo State, Prof. Sylvia Uchenna Agu, reported that INEC State Headquarters office in Owerri was attacked by unknown gunmen, at about 3a.m on Monday Dec. 12.
“The attack affected the part of the building occupied by the Election and Party Monitoring (EPM) Department and one official utility vehicle (a Toyota Hilux pickup van) was burnt.
“The response of the security and emergency services (the Fire Service) curtailed further damage to the building and other assets of the commission.
“No critical election materials were destroyed. There were also no casualties involving staff of the commission.”
Okoye said the attack was the third on the commission’s facilities in Imo in less than two weeks, following the earlier attacks on its Orlu LGA office on Thursday, Dec. 1 and Oru West LGA office on Sunday Dec. 4.
“Our Imo headquarters is located in the centre of Owerri, the state capital, between a court and the state secretariat.
“This is therefore, yet another systematic attack targeted at the commission’s assets across the country, more so on the day that the collection of Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVCs) began nationwide ahead of the 2023 general elections,” Okoye said.
(NAN)
•Full text of the statement…
INDEPENDENT NATIONAL ELECTORAL COMMISSION
PRESS RELEASE
ATTACK ON OUR STATE HEADQUARTERS IN IMO STATE
The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) for Imo State, Professor Sylvia Uchenna Agu, has reported that our State Headquarters office in Owerri was attacked by unknown gunmen. The incident occurred at about 3.00am today Monday 12th December 2022.
The attack affected the part of the building occupied by the Election and Party Monitoring (EPM) Department and one official utility vehicle (a Toyota Hilux pickup van) was burnt.
The response of the security and emergency services (the Fire Service) curtailed further damage to the building and other assets of the Commission. No critical election materials were destroyed. There were also no casualties involving staff of the Commission.
This is third attack on the Commission’s facilities in Imo State in less than two weeks following the earlier attacks on our Orlu LGA office on Thursday 1st December 2022 and Oru West LGA office on Sunday 4th December 2022.
Our Imo State Headqurters is located in the centre of the Owerri, the State capital, between a court and the State secretariat. This is therefore yet another systematic attack targeted at the Commission’s assets across the country, more so on the day that the collection of Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVCs) commences nationwide ahead of the 2023 General Election.
E-Signed
Festus Okoye Esq.
National Commissioner & Chairman
Information and Voter Education Committee.
Monday 12th December 2022
