By Uche Minikwu, News/comments, March 8, 2018
As the tension in Akwa-Ibom state’s governorship election heighten, suspected thugs have unleashed havoc at the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC office in Ibesikpo Asutan Local government Area of the state, burning down parts of the commission’s office, and leaving some equipment in bad shape, like 13 generator sets and other materials yet to be ascertained. Meanwhile the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in the state, Mr. Mike Igini has confirmed the incident, but insisted that there is no cause for alarm, that elections must go on.
Speaking on Channels TV this afternoon, Mr. Igini said, yes, there was fire outbreak in the INEC office located at Ibesikpo Asutan LGA of Akwa Ibom, state, but Electoral materials are intact and that, what the commission is doing right now is to move out card riders and others.
Continuing, he further stressed: “All the sensitive materials for voting in all the polling units in that local government affected is not an issue, and the register of all the electorates have been recovered and we are good to go”
The State REC noted that, it is just one local government, and the burnt office is just half, therefore there is no problem at all, we are ready. “The configuration of card riders is ongoing and before 5pm today, it would be done. All INEC materials are in all the Local government Area offices, so what is going on now is the security reinforcement in the various offices. The commission is however, calling on all Akwa-Ibom people to come out in en mass to exercise their franchise without fear , because latest 7am, our staff will be on ground and 8am, voting will start proper.
Mr. Igini hinted that some people in the state just wants to sabotage our efforts of conducting free, fair and credible election.
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