The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC office in Ohafia Local Government Area of Abia State has been attacked and set ablaze by yet to be identified persons.
It was gathered that the incident happened on Sunday night and was confirmed by the Resident Electoral Commissioner, Dr. Joseph IIoh.
This was disclosed in a statement by the National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, Festus Okoye Esq, on Monday, May 10.
According to the statement, the Commissioner revealed that there were no casualties on the part of the staff on guard but stated that furniture items and all electoral materials, office equipment as well as the building were destroyed.
Narrating the incident, the Commissioner revealed that the attack was not the first on the Commission in the state, adding that five months ago on December 13, 2020, the INEC office in Aba South was completely burnt down while on October 2020, that of Arochukwu LGA was vandalized and ransacked.
The Commissioner further recalls that last week, the commission reported an attack on its office in Essien Udim Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State.
Also, the Commissioner while narrating, expressed anxiety over the impact of the attacks on electoral activities which according to him involves the ongoing expansion of voter access to Polling Units, resumption of the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR), pending bye-elections, end of tenure elections, and ultimately the 2023 General Election.
The Commissioner also explained that these facilities are national assets that must be protected while calling for an emergency meeting next week on Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Electoral Security (ICCES) to discuss the disturbing trend.
The Commissioner also reassure Nigerians that all activities about the ongoing expansion of voter access to Polling Units and preparations for the resumption of CVR as well as all scheduled elections will proceed as planned.
Meanwhile, the Commissioner also explained that the attack has been reported to the police for investigation.
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