The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has decried constant attacks on its offices across the country, with the recent being attack on its office at Izzi local government area of Ebonyi State.
Newsonline reports that INEC said the attack which occurred yesterday (Sunday) was the third across the country since November 10.
INEC commissioner for information and voters education, Festus Okoye who disclosed this in s press release on Sunday, quoted Ebonyi state, Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) Pauline Ugochi as saying that thousands of permanent voters cards in the office along with other machines of the commission were lost to the fire.
“The Resident Electoral Commissioner of Ebonyi state, Mrs. Pauline Ugochi, reported that our Izzi local government area office located in Iboko was set ablaze this morning (Sunday).
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“The incident occurred around 10:00 am when some unidentified persons set the entire building ablaze.
340 ballot boxes, 130 voting cubicles, 14 electric power generators, larges water storage tanks, assorted office furniture and fixtures and yet to be determined quantities of permanent voter’s card PVCs,” the statement read in part.
INEC added, “This is the third attack on our local government’s office in less than three weeks following similar attacks on our offices in Ogun and Osun states on the 10th of November.
SERAP Calls On President Buhari to take Action to Protect INEc Facilities
Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Projects (SERAP) has condemned the continuous attacks on INEc facilities while calling on the president, Muhammadu Buhari to take actions that will protect the facilities of the electoral body.
SERAP said the attack on INEC office in Ebonyi which is the third in three weeks will violate Nigerians’ rights to political participation if unchecked.
“We condemn the attack on INEC office in Ebonyi State. The attack follows other recent attacks on INEC offices in Anambra, Ogun and Osun states. The Buhari administration must end this impunity, and blatant violation of Nigerians’ right to political participation,” SERAP said.
