By Maria Ifafesobi
Akure
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has said the inferno that broke out at the commission’s headquarters in Akure, will not affect the conduct of the forthcoming October 10, governorship election in any form or lead to the postponement, adding that it will hold as earlier scheduled.
The inferno started around 7 pm on Thursday at the commission’s headquarters, gutting the container housing card readers that were to be used in the forthcoming governorship election in the state.
INEC’s Resident Electoral Commissioner in Ondo State, Mr. Akeju made this known during a press brief at INEC’s headquarters in Akure today.
The Rec said, “let me use this medium to allay the fears of the electorate, political parties and our stakeholders and the good people of Ondo State that the fire incident will not affect the conduct of the forthcoming Gubernatorial Election in Ondo State in any form neither will it lead to the postponement of the Election”.
He also said that necessary arrangements had been put in place to replace the damaged card readers. Stressing that the commission’s determination to conduct a free, fair, and credible election remains undaunted.
“Meanwhile necessary arrangements have been put in place for the replacement of the damaged materials. Let me reiterate that our determination to conduct a free, fair, credible, and successful election remains undaunted.
“We shall not rest on our oars as an Election Management Body to always pursue the Vision and Mission of being an EMB that meets the aspirations of the Nigerian people”.
He further appreciated the men of the Ondo State Fire Service, Federal Fire Service Akure, the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria, and the Federal Fire Service, Ilesha for their swift response, and effort in putting out the fire.
“The gallant display of firemen from Ondo State fire service and the Federal Fire Service prevented the inferno from spreading to other parts of the office building”.
5,141 Card Readers were destroyed in the inferno. As at the time of filing this report, the actual cause of the fire is still unknown.
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