News

Elections: INEC raises alarm over fire incidents in its office

 

The Independent Electoral Commission (INEC) has expressed concern about fire incidents at two of its local government offices.

The fire incidents occurred at INEC office in Isiala Ngwa South Local Government office in Abia State and on Saturday at the  Qua’an Pan Local Government Area of Plateau State.

“Some of the items destroyed in Isiala Ngwa South Local Government included 2,979 Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVCs) and other materials.

“At the Qua’an Pan office, items destroyed include 5987 uncollected Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVCs), 380 Voting Cubicles, 755 ballot boxes, 14 generators, election forms and official stamps,” Festus Okoye, Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee of INEC, wrote in a statement late on Sunday.

Okoye said the commission has raised the matter with the police chief, Mohammed Adamu, “of the emerging trend of the burning of the Local Government Offices of the Commission close to the conduct of the elections and at a period when the Commission is engaged in the massive movement of election-related materials nationwide.”

“The Commission wishes to assure all Nigerians that it will not succumb to the antics of arsonists whose motive might be to create fear in the minds of voters and sabotage the conduct of the 2019 general elections,” he said.


…IGP orders water-tight security around INEC facilities

The Inspector General of Police, IGP, Mohammed Adamu has ordered a comprehensive water-tight and round-the-clock security for all INEC offices and facilities nationwide.

Consequently, Command Commissioners of Police in the 36 states of the Federation and FCT have been directed to put in place adequate, functional and purposeful security arrangements aimed at protecting all INEC offices and materials from all forms of crimes and mischief- before, during and after the elections.

A statement issued by Force Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Frank Uba said Zonal Assistant Inspectors General of Police (AIGs) have also been mandated to monitor compliance level of Commands under their jurisdiction with this directive, and ensure that no breach of security of any kind occurs within and around INEC facilities under their watch.

The order takes immediate effect.

Meanwhile, Adamu has assured Nigerians of the readiness of the Nigeria Police Force to deliver on its mandate of providing a safe and enabling environment for the conduct of the general election. He reiterates the commitment of the Force to providing a level playing field for all political actors, while remaining professional and apolitical in the discharge of its responsibilities.

Show More

Related Articles

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Back to top button