Barely three days after the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, confirmed an attack on its office in Orlu Local Government Area, the commission has reported another attack on its office in Oru West Local Government Area, Imo State.
Resident Electoral Commissioner, REC, for Imo State, Prof Sylvia Uchenna Agu, said the attack took place at about 4.00am on Sunday, 4th December 2022.
A statement released on Sunday by INEC’s National Commissioner and Chairman Information and Voter Education Committee, Festus Okoye, said the attack affected the Conference Room where office furniture and fittings were destroyed.
Okoye, however, noted that other critical facilities were not affected, adding this attack makes the 7th on INEC’s facilities in five States of the Federation in the last four months.
Recall that on Thursday 1st December 2022, INEC’s office in Orlu Local Government Area of Imo State was also attacked.
According to INEC, the building, which is undergoing extensive renovation following an earlier attack, was vandalised and partially set ablaze, while three, out of seven construction workers, were abducted but later released.
The commission noted that the damage would have been more extensive but for the quick response of the Nigeria Police which has deployed its personnel to the site.
“Once again, the Commission expresses its concern on 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 attention of the security agencies has been drawn to this latest incident for investigation and prosecution,” the statement said.