‘Seun Ibukun-Oni, Abuja

 

DAILY COURIER – The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC’s state headquarters in Owerri has been attacked by unknown gunmen early today.

A statement by National Commissioner & Chairman Information and Voter Education Committee, Festus Okoye today Monday December 12, 2022 disclosed that the damage to the building was curtailed due to the quick intervention of fire service officials.

The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) for Imo State, Professor Sylvia Uchenna Agu, according to the report said that the incident occurred at about 3.00am.

“The attack affected the part of the building occupied by the Election and Party Monitoring (EPM) Department and one official utility vehicle (a Toyota Hilux pickup van) was burnt.

“The response of the security and emergency services (the Fire Service) curtailed further damage to the building and other assets of the Commission. No critical election materials were destroyed. 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” the statement reads.