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  • JUST IN: Fire destroys INEC office in Delta

    JUST IN: Fire destroys INEC office in Delta

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Tuesday, December 3, announced that its office in the Ika North local government area of Delta State has been gutted by fire.

    National commissioner and chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, Sam Olumekun, said in a statement that the fire was caused by a power surge from a public power supply.

    He said while there was no casualty, the commission lost three generating sets and several other items.

    The statement reads: “The Commission held its regular meeting today, Tuesday 3rd December 2024. Among other issues, the meeting took note of a preliminary report from the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) for Delta State, Mr. Etekamba Udo Umoren, on a fire incident at our Ika North East Local Government Area (LGA) office in Owa-Oyibu town.

    “The report indicates that the incident occurred in the afternoon of Monday 2nd December 2024 as a result of a sudden power surge following the restoration of the public power supply.

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    “The stores’ section where petrol generators and other items were kept was completely razed. Items destroyed in the inferno include 706 ballot boxes, 50 election bags, 322 apron vests, three electric power generators, 140 stamps, 50 ballot box seals, and assorted items such as envelopes, posters, forms, and booklets.

    “Fortunately, there were no injuries or fatalities. The incident has been reported to the security agencies and emergency services for a thorough investigation. The Commission appreciates the cooperation of the Nigeria Police Force and the Delta State Fire Service for their response.

    “Ika North East is one of our 25 LGA offices in Delta State with 14 Registration Areas (Wards), 238 Polling Units, and 131,747 registered voters.”

  • Tension as hoodlums set ablaze INEC office in Akwa Ibom

    Suspected hoodlums on Thursday night set fire to an Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) office in Akwa Ibom State ahead of today’s governorship and state assembly elections.

    Burnt was the INEC office  in Ibesikpo Asuntan local government area of Akwa Ibom State.

    Some electoral materials, including card readers, were destroyed in the incident.

    But the  ballot papers are intact,according to the  Resident Electoral Commissioner, Mr Mike Igini.

    He said: “In the wee hours this morning, I got a call that one of the areas offices had been gutted by fire, or rather, fire was ongoing there, So we had to call the fire service and the DPO around that area.

    “So they all moved in there, and responded, and they were able to evacuate the entire ballot papers that had been delivered to the local government intact. But because the storeroom behind the building is very close to the fence, obviously we saw some footprints because of the rain yesterday , so it was very clear where they came in through to do the sabotage.

    “So, what were destroyed there were just card readers, the registered voters list and ballot boxes. So that is what happened. But the good news is because the entire ballot papers are intact, so what we are trying to do is basically trying to mop up our card readers as I speak to you, from the entire polling unit. You know, we have already recovered from our reserves, we have already got that.

    “So what we are contending with, which is not a problem really, is the voting point, and within the neighbouring state, even Abuja has called to provide some of the card readers. We have taken care of that.

    “Then the entire register that has been burnt, we have reproduced the register 30 minutes ago. They are ready. Beyond that, we are good to go. There is just one local government area out of 31 local government areas.

    “So we are good to go, the configuration of the card reader is currently ongoing, and I am very sure that before 5:00, we are done.”

    He hailed residents who raced to the scene to help put out the fire.Igini said they did a good job

    His words:”In fact, I must commend the first responders for the good job because that would have been an issue, but I can confirm to Nigerians and Akwa Ibomites that all the ballot papers are intact.

    The State  Police Command  said it was investigating the incident.

    The command’s Public Relations Officer, DSP Odiko MacDon said:”The Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Kaoje, is aware of the incident and has detailed senior police operatives to investigate the incident.

    “We are investigating to ascertain whether it is a clear case of arson, and when the investigations are completed, we will let the people know .”

    He said the findings would be made public while anyone  found culpable will be made to face the law no matter how highly placed.

    The command spokesman said security had been beefed up around all INEC offices

    Meanwhile, Mr Igini yesterday said that the burning of its Local Government Area Office in the state would not stop Saturday’s polls.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that hoodlums set fire to the INEC office in Ibesikpo/Asutan local government area of Akwa Ibom.

    Reacting to the incident, Igini said that the  heinous act would not deter the commission from carrying out its duties, as most of the sensitive materials for the conduct of the elections were still intact.

    The REC, who went on the spot assessment of the incident, said: “there is no going back on the March 9 elections in Akwa Ibom.

    “Election will hold as scheduled, no matter the plot.”

    He revealed that some card readers, electricity generators, computers and other office equipment were burnt.

    Narrating how the incident occurred, INEC Director of Public Affairs in the state, Mr Don Etukudoh, said the fire started at about 3:00 a.m on Friday.

    According to him, an explosive device was thrown into the building which ripped the roof open and substantial damage done to the wall with several card readers burnt.

    “From our findings, the place was attacked with explosives because we noticed huge damage done to the walls and the roof completely shattered.

    “We have been able to order several cards readers from the neighbouring states and we are presently configuring them in readiness for the elections,”  he said.

    The Electoral Officer (EO) for Ibesikpo/Asutan, Mr Victor Inyang, said that the polls would go on as planned because no ballot paper was destroyed by the fire.

    “They thought the election materials were kept in the store,” he added.

    The incident, he reiterated, would not deter the conduct of the polls in all the 177 polling units in Ibesikpo Asutan as other sensitive and non-sensitive materials other than the card readers were not affected by the inferno.

    The fire was extinguished by men of the state fire service.

  • Police tighten security at INEC office

    The security in and around the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC’s) office in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, was yesterday tightened by armed personnel from the police command.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that besides the security tightened on the commission’s premises, Aba Road where the office is situated is also under heavy security.

    NAN observed that two out of the four-carriage way were closed to traffic, while security personnel lined up along the remaining two lanes in use, controlling traffic.

    Read also: APC, UPP candidates reject Ondo election results

    The development created traffic jam, causing difficulty for people, especially commercial drivers who diverted to other routes in the metropolis.

    The development has resulted in fares hike.

    Efforts to reach the police spokesperson by NAN correspondent to find out issues leading to the air-tight security proved abortive.

  • Hoodlums burn INEC office in Osun

    •PDP candidate Wole Oke wins Oriade/Obokun Fed Constituency

    Hoodlums suspected to be political thugs have burnt down the office of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) at Ijebu-Jesa in Oriade Local Government Area of Osun State.

    An INEC official, who spoke in confidence, said the office was attacked yesterday at 3 a.m.

    The hoodlums were said to have besieged the office, shooting and destroying all property on the premises.

    Two generating sets, ballot papers and boxes were among the items they destroyed.

    Also, the INEC has declared the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for Oriade/Obokun Federal Constituency, Oluwole Oke, winner of Saturday’s National Assembly election.

    The Returning Officer (RO) for the constituency, Prof. Rasaki Adebayo, of the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, declared Oke winner.

    The PDP candidate won with over 25,000 votes against the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr. Siji Olamiju, who polled over 19,000 votes.

     

  • EFCC operatives at INEC collation centre in Lagos

    Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) have surfaced at the Lagos State Collation Centre for the Presidential Election, situated at the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) headquarters office, Yaba.

    The 10 officials entered INEC premises before 10:00pm on Saturday night and sat under the canopy erected for the collation of Presidential results across the 20 local government areas of the state.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the operatives, who were wearing their aprons with EFCC inscriptions sat quietly awaiting the commencement of the final collation exercise in the state.

    The operatives were seated and fully at alert at the collation centre. Their mission was not clear.

    Speaking to NAN, a staff of the commission, who preferred anonymity, said that in his many years of service in the commission, the operatives of EFCC had never participated in elections’ result collation.

    Another official of the commission, who would not want his name mentioned in print suggested that the operatives were on ground to tackle the menace of vote selling and buying.

    Meanwhile, collations of the Presidential and National Assembly elections are ongoing in many centres and no results from any local government areas of the state has reached the final state collation centre in INEC office.

    However, the venue was scanty as at 12:00 midnight with some journalists and many security agents going in and out of the premises.

    The final collation for the Presidential elections in the state may be delayed till Sunday morning.

    NAN reports that many Registration Area Collation Officers in the Lagos Mainland Federal Constituency collation centre situated at St. Agnes Primary School, Birrel in Yaba, next fence to INEC office, were still busy with the exercise.

  • PDP accuses APC of burning INEC offices

    The People’s Democratic Party ( PDP ) said Tuesday that fresh facts available to it have shown that the All Progressives Congress (APC) was responsible for the burning of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) offices in various parts of the country.

    The main opposition PDP said it already has the details of how the APC mobilised misguided elements in its fold to burn INEC offices and destroy electoral materials and equipment in Plateau, Abia and Anambra states.

    Fire had gutted INEC offices in the three states within one week.

    In a statement by its spokesman, Kola Ologbondiyan, the PDP said, “Our party is also privy to clandestine plots by the APC to burn INEC offices in some other states, so as to paralyse the Commission’s operations in such states, and pave the way for the isolation and postponement of the presidential elections in those states; after which it plans to unleash compromised security agencies to muzzle the shifted polls in favour of President Muhammadu Buhari.

    “Having realised that President Buhari has no chance in a credible, free and fair general election, the APC now plots a violent staggering of the polls so as to use security forces to re-enact the same rigging formula it used in the 2018 Ekiti and Osun governorship elections”

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    The statement added that in attacking INEC offices and destroying the card readers, the APC was is to cripple the Commission’s use of full benefit of technology that will guarantee a credible biometric voter accreditation.

    “The PDP in very unequivocal terms insists that it will never accept any attempt by the APC to postpone the Presidential election in any state of the federation. The Presidential election must hold in all the states on the 16th of February and President Buhari will be served his defeat certificate.

    “The PDP therefore charges Nigerians to resist the desperation of the APC, for which it has now resorted to burning INEC offices. The party also charges INEC to note that the APC is after it facilities and as such put stronger measures to protect itself from the assaults of this desperate party”.

  • INEC office in Dekina burnt down

    INEC office in Dekina burnt down

    Barely few hours to the controversial supplementary governorship Election in Kogi State, the office of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) was razed down by some thugs in Dekina, Dekina local government area of the state.

    Out of the 91 polling units, where the election was supposed to take place, 29 units are in Dekina.

    According to eyewitnesses, some thugs invaded the office at about 5:00am and set it on fire in anger in the early hours of Friday.

    One of the eyewitnesses said: “The thugs came in a bus, shot sporadically and razed down the office.”

    It was not immediately clear if the voting materials for Saturday’s poll had been taken to the INEC office or not.

    But Dekina is rated as one of the hot spots for the supplementary poll

  • Police teargas Peterside, Abe, others at INEC office

    Police teargas Peterside, Abe, others at INEC office

    Security operatives yesterday tear-gassed Rivers State governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the April 11 election, Dakuku Peterside and Senator Magnus Abe at the headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Abuja.

    Peterside and Abe led a team of 48 candidates who contested the various elections in the state and reporters to submit a protest letter to INEC’s Acting Chairman, Hajia Amina Zakari, against the state Resident Electoral Commission (REC) for allegedly refusing to give them certified true copies (CTC) of the materials used in the elections.

    The delegation, which arrived at the INEC headquarters at 11:15am, was prevented from getting close to the gate by a combined team of mobile police and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).

    The security agencies insisted that the delegation would not be allowed to go beyond the barricaded areas since it had no prior information of the visit.

    INEC’s Deputy Director in charge of security, Victor Egbun, told the delegation that it could only send a representative to meet the commission’s acting chairman and submit its protest letter to her.

    The team comprised former House of Representatives members, like Andrew Uchendu, Otelemaba Amachree, Dawari George, Igochukwu Aguma, former members of the Rivers State House of Assembly and Rivers State APC Chairman Denis Ebiamo Ikanya.

    The security officials threatened to shoot the protesters, if they crossed the barricaded areas.

    This forced them to raise their voices and move towards the INEC gate, which the security operatives had locked.

    As the delegates approached the gate chanting solidarity songs, the security officials released some canisters of tear gas in front of them and reporters to disperse the crowd.

    Peterside said: “We are candidates of the APC at various categories in the last elections. We are here to register our protest to INEC.

    “Immediately after the elections, in accordance with the law, we applied for the certified true copies of documents used in the conduct of the elections.

    “It is unfortunate that till date, we have not got the certified copies of the election materials, even when it is clear in the law that it must be released within seven days of receiving the application. As if that was not enough, we have approached various tribunals, which have also ordered the release of the materials. But unfortunately, those orders have not been complied with till date.

    “We do not have the documents to prosecute our cases. INEC in Rivers State has done everything humanly possible to frustrate our cases at the various tribunals. Dame Ghesilla Khan, who is Rivers State REC, has insisted that she was under instruction from the national office not to release the documents to us. That is why we are here to deliver our protest to INEC’s Acting Chairman.

    “We have written between 26 and 27 petitions on this issue and we have not got any serious response. We are aware that the acting chairman has made several memos to the Rivers REC, asking her to comply with the law by releasing the required materials. But she has wilfully refused to comply with the law by releasing and properly certifying those documents for us to use to prosecute our cases at the various tribunals.

    “All we need is for INEC to abide by the law, by releasing to us all the certified materials we have requested for. We are not asking anybody to do us any order favour. The Electoral Act is very clear: if you apply within a period of seven days, those documents must be released to you.

    “I am shocked that our peaceful request and visit today was greeted with canisters of tear gas which INEC officials have ordered their security operatives to suffocate us with.”

    Senator Abe expressed surprise at the way INEC officials treated the delegation.

    The lawmaker urged the government to investigate the incident.

    He noted that INEC security officials violated the delegates’ human rights by using tear gas, since they were peaceful.

    Abe said: “This singular act of the Rivers REC, if not checked, could lead to a breach of the peace in the state. Our simple request is now being frustrated by the same INEC that caused the crisis in the state. The only way to ensure peace in Rivers State is to ensure that INEC obeys the law and releases those documents to allow our cases to be determined by law. We, as law-abiding citizens, will obey the outcome of our cases at the various tribunals.

    “But a situation where the same person, who created this same situation, is allowed to frustrate the case, I do not know how our people would take that. Nigerians need to be aware that Rivers State is still a flashpoint, if these issues are not dealt with expeditiously…”

    INEC’s Director of Security, Shettima Ngilade, after two hours, urged the protesters to obey the directives of INEC Acting Chairman and send only their representatives.

    He said: “…This is a public place. We cannot refuse you entry into the premises; we have procedures of doing things.

    “With the way you arrived, we had every reason to fear because even the Rivers State Electoral Commissioner is inside, meeting with the Acting Chairman. There was no prior information about your coming to the commission for us to arrange so that you can see the Acting Chairman.

    “What we can only do here is to allow a few of your representatives to go inside and meet with the ACTING Chairman or you hand over your protest letter to us to give her. We cannot allow you to move in this your numbers.”

  • Fire at Abia INEC office

    Fire at Abia INEC office

    The Abia State Office of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) was yesterday razed by suspected arsonists.

    The commission’s spokesman, Enabor Godwin, said he was unaware of the incident.

    Governor Okezie Ikpeazu has condemned the dastardly act.

    Ikpeazu, who inspected the scene yesterday, was shocked at the damage. He urged the police and other law enforcement agencies to bring the culprits to book.

    He called on the police and the Army to tighten  security in all INEC formations to forestall a recurrence.

    All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) Chairman Augustine Ehiemere said the fire was a smoke screen by the PDP-led administration to cover its electoral  fraud.

    Ehiemere was shocked that anyone would say APGA started the fire when APGA needed electoral materials to strengthen its petition at the tribunal.

    His words: “Government burnt down the place to destroy evidence against its fraud; they did it because the tribunal had ordered INEC to assemble the electoral materials today”.

    Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Chairman Emma Nwaka condemned the incident, describing it as an act of the devil.

    Nwaka refuted allegations that his party burnt the office to cover its fraud.

    “We won the election; INEC was so convinced with our victory that its order for a rerun in certain polling units excluded Obingwa, which had always been a PDP stronghold. I repeat, PDP has no hand in the disaster,” Nwaka said.

    Police spokesman Onyeke Ezekiel confirmed the inferno, saying an investigation into the matter would soon begin.

  • Hoodlums burn INEC office in Suswam’s local govt

    Hoodlums burn INEC office in Suswam’s local govt

    Gun-totting thugs last night,  believed to be supporters of one of the candidates yesterday set the office of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Ugba town, Logo Local Government Area of Benue State on fire.

    Ugba is the headquarters of Logo Council, hometown of Governor Gabriel Suswam, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Senatorial candidate. His opponent is Senator Barnabas Gemade of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    The place has supporters of both parties.

    Eyewitnesses said Ugba town became rowdy as people were scampering for safety, with sporadic gunshots which resulted to injury of several persons.

    It was learnt that the armed men who unleashed the terror were dressed in military uniform.

    Police Spokesman  Ezeani Ameachi confirmed the incident and said policemen had been deployed to the affected area to maintain peace.