INEC Loses 4,695 Smart Card Readers In Anambra Inferno

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has confirmed that 4,695 Smart Card Reader was destroyed in an inferno that occurred in its office in Awka, Anambra on Tuesday.

INEC National Commissioner, Mr Festus Okoye, said in a statement issued in Awka that there was no fatality or injury report in the incident.

Okoye, who is the Chairman of INEC’s Information and Voter Education Committee, regretted that similar incidents had occurred in the last 12 days following those of Isiala Ngwa and Qua’an Pan Local Governments offices in Abia and Plateau States respectively.

Admitting that the incident is a setback to INEC’s preparation for the smooth conduct of the elections in Anambra, Okoye stated that immediate measures have already been taken to ameliorate the situation.

The National Commissioner said the measures include mopping up some of the spare card readers from other states and deploying them to Anambra for smooth conduct of the general elections come February 16 and March 2.

He said with the steps taken so far, INEC is confident the election in Anambra would proceed as scheduled, adding that the incident had been reported to the police and the Fire Service for necessary action.

Okoye, who disclosed that investigation has commenced to determined the cause of the fire incident, commended the Fire Service for its quick response that prevented the fire from spreading and causing more damage to the commission’s property.

Reports said two containers with configured card readers and other sensitive materials for the general elections were gutted by fire at the INEC office in the state.

The fire, which source remained unknown, started around 2.14 pm razing the entire containers before the arrival of Anambra State Fire Service.

An eye witness, who spoke in anonymity, said the fire started at a portion and was put off only to double and escalate to other places.

NAN reports that many of the ad-hoc staff of the commission were at the INEC complex to collect their posting letters when the incident.