Nigeria’s Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC says its office in Oru West Local Government Area of Imo State was attacked early on Sunday.
This is coming barely three months before the conduct of the 2023 general elections. According to INEC, within the past four months, there have been seven attacks on its facilities in five states.
A circular released on Sunday by INEC’s National Commissioner and Chairman of the commission’s Information and Voter Education Committee, Festus Okoye said
“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 4.00 am today, Sunday 4th December 2022.
Image:SaharaReporters
"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.
“Overall, this is the 7th attack on our facilities in five States of the Federation in the last four months.
"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."
Attacks on INEC offices have become rampant in the lead-up to Nigeria's general elections scheduled to hold early next year.
In November 2022, INEC local government office in Ogun State was attacked several times during which critical materials were destroyed, according to SaharaReporters.
About eight suspected criminals reportedly scaled the perimeter fence of the INEC office, jumped into the premises, and set the building on fire from its rear side.
In reaction to the arson attack, INEC in an official statement said over 65,000 uncollected PVCs were destroyed in the fire.
In the same week, the commission’s office in Osogbo, the Osun State capital was also attacked.
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