INEC lists items destroyed in bombed facility in Anambra

At Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has confirmed a recent bombing at a facility in Ojoto, a community in Idemili South Local Government Area of ​​​​Anambra State, south-eastern Nigeria.

INEC spokesman, Festus Okoye, disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday.

PREMIUM TIMES reported how the gunmen bombed the commission facility in the council area on Wednesday and also attacked the Police Division Headquarters in Nnobi, another community in the council area, killing a 16-year-old boy and injuring a 15-year-old girl in the attack.

Mr. Okoye, a lawyer, said the Resident Electoral Commissioner in Anambra State, Elizabeth Agwu, reported the attack to the commission.

An INEC spokesperson said the building was “severely damaged” in the attack.

“All furniture and other items were destroyed, including insensitive materials that were recently sent in preparation for the 2023 general elections,” he said.

“Among the items lost due to the inferno are 729 ballot boxes, 243 polling booths, 256 election bags, 11 megaphones, one electricity generator and lots of indelible ink and liquid chewing gum,” Okoye added.

The spokesperson, however, said that the Permanent Voter Cards kept in the commission’s “fireproof cabinet” were not affected during the attack.

“Similarly, no sensitive material was sent to local government offices.”

He said the attack appeared to have been coordinated as police facilities in Nnobi were also attacked by gunmen.

2023: ‘No cause for alarm’

INEC said that despite the attack, the commission would still go ahead with the 2023 general elections as planned.

“Despite this disgraceful incident, the commission wants to assure the people of South Idemili Region that contingency arrangements will be made to replace the (damaged) materials and that the Presidential and National Assembly elections will go ahead on February 25, 2023 as scheduled. Assembly elections next week,” said Mr. Okoye.

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