Fire Will Not Stop Elections In Plateau, Abia States – INEC

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Fire Will Not Stop Elections In Plateau, Abia States – INEC

INEC has re-affirmed that elections would proceed as scheduled
despite the fire incidents that destroyed its offices in Qua’an Pan
Local Government of Plateau and Isiala Ngwa South Local Government Area
of Abia.

The commission gave the assurance in a statement issued by Mr Festus
Okoye, INEC National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter
Education Committee on Sunday in Abuja.

The commission also pledged it would print and made available,
Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVC), to registered voters whose cards were
affected by the fire in the two local government offices. The first
incident occurred in Isiala Ngwa South Local Government office of the
Commission in Abia State on Saturday Feb. 2, while the second occurred
at the Qua’an Pan Local Government office of the Commission in Plateau
State on Saturday Feb. 9.

He listed some of the items destroyed in Isiala Ngwa South Local
Government include 2979 Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVCs) and other
materials. “At the Qua’an Pan office, items destroyed include 5987
uncollected Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVCs), 380 Voting Cubicles, 755
ballot boxes, 14 generators, election forms and official stamps.”

Okoye said that in view of these developments, the Commission has taken the following steps:

“The commission had directed the Resident Electoral Commissioner
(RECs) for Plateau to open a register for all those in the affected
Local Government Area who approach the Commission to collect their PVCs
within the specified period.

“The Commission will print the PVCs and make them available for collection in good time before the elections.

“Reprinted and delivered the Permanent Voters’ Cards of the affected registered voters in Isiala Ngwa South in Abia State.”

INEC, he said has made arrangements for the relocation of the burnt
offices that the temporary offices would be ready for the conduct of the
February 16 and March 2, 2019 elections.

“The Commission will proceed as planned in the affected Local
Government Areas and all the burnt materials will be replaced in good
time and as such will not affect the conduct of the elections.”

Okoye said that the commission also requested that additional
security measures be provided by the Nigerian Police Force to enhance
security around its offices and other critical structures of the
Commission, following the two fire incidence.

Okoye said that the Commission had notified the acting Inspector
General of Police of the emerging trend of the burning of its Local
Government Offices close to the conduct of the elections. The national
commissioner said that the incidents were happening at a period when the
Commission was engaged in the massive movement of election related
materials nationwide.

All relevant security agencies have been requested to arrest and
bring to justice, persons or groups who attacked the offices, he said.
Okoye, however, said that the two fire incidents did not affect the
Smart Card Readers that were presently being configured in the
respective state offices of the Commission.

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