BREAKING: Electoral Body, INEC Laments Another Attack On Imo Office; 4th Within Three Weeks In Southeast Nigerian State

The Isu Local Government Area Office of Imo State was attacked early on Tuesday, according to the Independent National Electoral Commission of Nigeria.

The attack occurs just a few months before the national elections in 2023.

The electoral authority reported that over the past three weeks, there have been four attacks on its premises in Imo state.

In a circular issued on Wednesday, Festus Okoye Esq., National Commissioner of INEC and Chairman of the commission’s Information and Voter Education Committee, reported that eight windows had been broken and burglary proofs had been taken.

The statement reads: “The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) for Imo State, Professor Sylvia Uchenna Agu, has reported that our office in Isu Local Government Area office was attacked and vandalised.

“The incident occurred at the early hours of Tuesday, 20th December 2022. Eight windows were smashed, and burglary proofs removed.

“Fortunately, the attackers could not access the building. Movable and immovable equipment as well as other materials were not removed or vandalised. However, as a precautionary measure, critical materials such as ballot boxes and voting cubicles have been evacuated to another INEC facility for safe keeping.

“Similarly, all uncollected PVCs have been secured while security will be deployed to ensure the continuous collection of the cards by registered voters in the same premises. The incident has been reported to the Police and other security agencies for necessary action.

“This is the fourth attack on INEC facilities in Imo State in less than three weeks following previous attacks on Orlu and Oru West Local Government Areas and the State Headquarters in Owerri.”