Razed INEC Office: REC Insists Election Will Hold in Akwa Ibom Tomorrow
…Police Command Confirms Incidence
By Shola Akingboye
The Akwa Ibom Police Command has confirmed the burning down of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) office in Ibesikpo Local Government Area of the state.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) gathered that unidentified hoodlums set fire to the office this Friday, barely 24 hours to the Governorship and House of Assembly polls.
The command’s Public Relations Officer, DSP Odiko MacDon confirmed the incident to newsmen in Uyo on Friday.
“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,” MacDon said.
Meanwhile, the State Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Mr. Mike Igini, also confirmed the incidence, he
said,”yes some parts of our office at Ibesikpo was set ablaze. Well, there is no going back from the elections scheduled for tomorrow, 9 March 2019. Out of the thirty-one local government in the state, only one was attacked so there is no cause for alarm. Everything is under control.
“We are not detered by the fire incident, our normal activities still continue.”
It was also gathered that over 160 Card Readers out of 190 provided for the area were burnt including 12 brand-new generators, computer sets and other office equipment.
The Electoral Officer (EO), Mr. Victor Inyang, confirmed to some reporters that “no Ballot Paper was destroyed by the fire. They thought the election materials were kept in the store. So, they went there first.”
However, an unconfirmed source claimed that the fire was caused by an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) planted in the Store Section of the office.
The source further claimed that the perpetrators were youths brought from Edo State and camped at Tranquility Hotel for the past three days.
Meanwhile, the state Police Public Relations Officer, DSP MacDon Ogbeche who also confirmed the incident said investigation was ongoing to ascertain whether the incident was a natural hazard or politically instigated.
He added that the command would bring the perpetrators to book irrespective of who may be responsible.
We have a situation report that part of INEC office at Ibesikpo Asutan was razed by fire. We want to ascertain if it was sabotaged or natural. We are still investigating and if there are people responsible, we would apprehend and prosecute them according to the extant laws,” he said.
It would be recalled that similar incidence occurred as two persons were shot dead and about thirteen vehicles destroyed on Friday penultimate night to the March 9 Presidential election. This hoodlums attacked office of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, in Obot-Akara Local Government Council of Akwa Ibom State.
It was gathered that the victims died as a result of gun battle between the hoodlums and the security personnel on election duties at Nto Edino, the headquarters of Obot-Akara, during the distribution of sensitive materials for the postponed Presidential and National Assembly elections.
