- 65,699 PVCs Destroyed In Ogun Attack
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has summoned its top staff to an emergency security meeting in Abuja today (Friday) as its facilities continue to record unprecedented attacks less than four months to the 2023 elections.
The meeting follows the latest attacks on its offices in Abeokuta, Ogun state and Ede in Osun state on Thursday.
Hoodlums had on Thursday set an office of INEC at Iyana Mortuary, Abeokuta on fire leaving a total of 65,699 Permanent Voter’s Cards (PVCs) destroyed.
Similarly, suspected hoodlums on Thursday breached the INEC office in Ede South LGA of Osun state, setting it ablaze.
With Thursday’s attacks, it is being reported that the INEC has suffered 47 attacks on its facilities and offices since February 2019.
Reacting to the Thursday’s attacks, the National Commissioner and Chairman Information and Voter Education Committee (IVEC), Festus Okoye, said the emergency meeting was triggered by the attacks on the commission’s local government offices in Ogun and Osun states.
The meeting, which will be attended by heads of security agencies, who are members of the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES) including the National Security Adviser (NSA), will discuss the trend and fashion out ways of curbing the development ahead of the 2023 elections.
Okoye said in Ogun, “The main building and all the Commission’s movable assets in the office were destroyed. They include 904 ballot boxes, 29 voting cubicles, 30 megaphones, 57 election bags, 8 electric power generators and 65,699 uncollected Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs).
“Similarly, the Resident Electoral Commissioner for Osun State, Dr. Mutiu Agboke, reported that our office in Ede South Local Government Area was attacked and set ablaze.”
He added that the attention of the Nigeria Police Force and other security and safety agencies has been drawn to the incidents. He said the security agencies have commenced investigations.
“With just 106 days to the 2023 General Election, when the commission has commenced the movement of materials to our offices nationwide, these simultaneous attacks are very worrisome indeed, “he said.
Meanwhile, one media source had allegedly linked the attacks in parts of Southwest to the Yoruba Nation agitators, saying:“They recently attacked a military facility in Ogun State and carted away with some weapons. Security forces have not yet commented on this allegation but sources said they are not ruling out any possibilities.” However, authorities were yet to uphold the claim as of the time of this reporting.
