Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC has announced another attack in it’s facility in Owerri, the Imo state Capital making it a third in the state in less than one month.
The National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, Festus Okoye in a statement said this time around, the attack was on its headquarters in Owerri.
He said the Resident Electoral Commissioner, REC for Imo State, Professor Sylvia Uchenna Agu, has reported that the Commission’s office in Owerri was attacked by unknown gunmen at about 3.00am on Monday December 12, 2022.
According to the Commissioner, the attack affected part of the building occupied by the Election and Party Monitoring (EPM) Department and one official utility vehicle (a Toyota Hilux pickup van) that was burnt.
Speaking further, Okoye said the esponse of the security and emergency services (the Fire Service) curtailed further damage to the building and other assets of the Commission.
He said no critical election materials were destroyed and that 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 targetted 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”, he added.
