Over 700 ballot boxes were consumed by fire at the INEC office in Delta State. Discover the impact of this incident and official responses.
A fire has been confirmed at the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) office located in Ika North East Local Government Area, Delta State, resulting in considerable damage to electoral materials.
INEC announced via its official X account on Tuesday that the blaze destroyed 706 ballot boxes, 50 election bags, 322 apron vests, and various other critical items.
The Resident Electoral Commissioner for Delta State, Mr. Etekamba Udo Umoren, indicated that the fire broke out on Monday afternoon, attributing it to a sudden power surge following the restoration of public electricity.
The destruction of essential election materials has raised concerns among stakeholders, who are now awaiting further information on how the commission intends to manage this setback.
Authorities are currently investigating the incident to assess the full extent of the damage and to implement preventive measures for the future.
The section of the store housing petrol generators and other items was entirely consumed by the fire, with losses including three electric power generators, 140 stamps, 50 ballot box seals, and various other supplies such as envelopes and forms.
Fortunately, there were no reported injuries or fatalities, and the incident has been communicated to security agencies and emergency services for a comprehensive investigation.
INEC expressed gratitude for the prompt response from the Nigeria Police Force and the Delta State Fire Service.
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