The Ondo State office of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC was late evening on Thursday gutted by fire destroying over 5000 card readers already programmed for use in the October 10, governorship election in the state. The fire outbreak which started around 8:45pm at the ICT unit of the commission took some hours before
The Ondo State office of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC was late evening on Thursday gutted by fire destroying over 5000 card readers already programmed for use in the October 10, governorship election in the state.
The fire outbreak which started around 8:45pm at the ICT unit of the commission took some hours before it was contained.The Chief Press Secretary to INEC’s Chairman, Mr. Rotimi Oyekanmi confirmed the incident.
“Fire broke out today, Thursday September 10,2020 at the Ondo State Head Office of the Independent National Electoral Commission in Akure. The inferno, gutted the container housing Smart Card Readers.
“National Commissioner, Barrister Festus Okoye, who is in Ondo State in connection with preparations for the Ondo State Governorship election scheduled for 10th October 2020, rushed to the office at about 8pm.
“The Administrative Secretary of the State, Mr. Popoola and some staff of the Commission are also there”, Mr Oyekanmi said.
Also commenting on the incident INEC’s National Commissioner Information and Voter Education, Barrister Okoye said investigation into the cause of the fire will commence promptly after the fire has been contained.
Festus Okoye, further assured that the occurence would not stop the poll or lead to its postponement.
NAN quoted Mr. Okoye as saying that 5,141 card readers to be used for the Ondo governorship election were burnt. The cause of the fire incident is yet to be determined.
