For the hoodlums or unknown gunmen, there’s no retreat from their evil ways as they attacked the office of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Idemili South Local government of Anambra State, destroying several materials prepared for the 2023 elections.

Though materials destroyed were quite substantial but the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) said contingency arrangement will be made to replace the materials and that the Presidential and National Assembly elections will proceed on 25th February 2023 as scheduled.

Confirming the incident in a state on Tuesday, Mr. Festus Okoye, National Commissioner and Chairman Information and Voter Education Committee of the Commission said the incident occurred in the early hours of Tuesday 1st February 2023.

The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) for Anambra State, Dr. Queen Elizabeth Agwu, reported that our office in Idemili South Local Government Area (LGA) was attacked and set ablazed by unknown gunmen. The incident occurred in the early hours of Wednesday, 1st February 2023.

According to Mr. Okoye, the building was substantially damaged. All furniture and other items were destroyed, including non-sensitive materials recently delivered in readiness for the 2023 General Election.

“Among the items lost to the inferno are 729 ballot boxes, 243 voting cubicles, 256 election bags, 11 megaphones, 1 electric power generator and large quantities of indelible ink and liquid gum.

“However, uncollected Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVCs) kept in the fireproof cabinet were not affected by the inferno. Similarly, no sensitive materials have been delivered to the LGA office”, he stressed.

Mr Okoye said the destruction appeared to have been coordinated as the Nnobi Police Station in the LGA was similarly attacked.

There have been 8 incidents of attacks on INEC facilities between December 2,2022 and January 15,2023.

On December 2,2022, unknown gunmen/ hoodlums attacked Orlu LGA and Oru West LGA. On 3rd December, they attacked Igboeze North LGA office and on August 01,2022, that attacked Udenu LGA office.

Izzi LGA office of INEC was attacked on November 27,2022 and on December 12,2022, they attacked the State headquarters, Owerri.

Hoodlums also attacked the Isu LGA office of INEC on December 20,2022.