Dare-devil armed men in the early hours of Monday attacked the Imo state headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), destroying a part of the building and a utility vehicle. They, however, met their Waterloo as gallant security men sent three of them to their early graves, others escaped with bullet wounds while one was captured alive.

The attack was the third in Imo state in less than two weeks and the eight in five States. Hoodlums had on 1st December, 2022 attacked INEC Orlu LGA office and on the 4th December,this year, they attacked the Oru West LGA office of the Commission.

The rampaging hoodlums said to be in their numbers were said to have been challenged by the gallant officers and men of the Nigeria Police, who captured one of the gunmen, killed three instantly and pursued the team to a junction at Ogbaku area of the state where they abandoned their vehicle and took to their heels.

Mr. Festus Okoye Esq. National Commissioner & Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee confirmed the attack on the INEC facility on Monday.

According to him; “the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) for Imo State, Professor Sylvia Uchenna Agu, has reported that our state headquarters office in Owerri was attacked by unknown gunmen. The incident occured at about 3:00am today, Monday 12 December,2022.

He said the attack affected the part of the building occupied by the Election & Party Monitoring (EPM) Department and one official utility vehicle (a Toyota Hilux pick-up van) was burnt.

Okoye said no critical election materials were damaged and ;” there were also no casualties involving staff of the Commission”.

The INEC Commissioner who noted that the INEC Imo state headquarters is located in the centre of Owerri the state capital and sandwiched between a court and the state Secretariat lamented that; “this is therefore yet another systematic attack targeted at the Commission’s assets across the country, more so, on the day that collection of Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVCs) commences nationwide ahead of the 2023 general election.

The Inter- agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES) had shortly after the Commission’s facility was attacked in Ogun state met and drew out a number of strategy on how to prevent future attacks on INEC facilities.

Imo State Commissioner has assured that his command would do everything to unravel those behind such dastardly acts in the state.

Governor Hope Uzodinma said the incident confirms his government’s insistence that the attacks are politically motivated. He said people who said they are popular and would win election but in truth don’t want election to take place by destroying INEC facilities.