By EZEKIEL OBI, Abuja –
Hoodlums on Sunday have set The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) office ablaze in Imo State.
The latest attack is coming barely 72 hours after hoodlums attacked it’s office on Thursday,
INEC National Commissioner and Chairman of Information and Voter Education Committee, Festus Okoye disclosed this in a statement issued on Sunday.
He said the latest attack on its office in the Oru West Local Government Area of Imo State was attacked at about 4.00am on Sunday.
The latest attack, he noted, comes barely three days after suspected arsonists invaded the Commission’s office in Orlu Local Government Area.
“The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) for Imo State, Professor Sylvia Uchenna Agu, has reported that our office in Oru West Local Government Area was attacked at about 4.00am today Sunday 4th December 2022,” he said.
“The attack affected the Conference Room where office furniture and fittings were destroyed. However, other critical facilities were not affected.
“It would be recalled that on Thursday 1st December 2022, our office in Orlu Local Government Area of Imo State was also attacked.”
According to Okoye, Sunday’s attack is the seventh of its kind on the facilities of the electoral umpire in five states of the federation in the last four months.
He added that the Commission is deeply worried about the “consequences of what appears to be a systematic attack on its facilities across the country on the conduct of elections in particular and electoral activities in general.”
The INEC National Commissioner noted that the attention of security agencies has been drawn to this latest incident for investigation and prosecution.
Despite repeated attacks on its facilities, INEC has again assured Nigerians that the 2023 general election will be conducted as planned.
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