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JUST IN: Imo Boils As Arsonists Burn 8th INEC Office

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) said another of its offices has been burnt down in Imo State. 

The Commission said the office located at Okwudor community in Njaba Local Government Area was razed by unknown assailants on Sunday. 

Festus Okoye, the INEC National Commissioner  and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, disclosed this in a statement on Sunday. 

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Okoye said the latest incident makes it the 8th INEC office to be attacked in Imo and 42nd across the country since the 2019 presidential election. 

“Our Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) for Imo State, Professor Francis Ezeonu, has reported that our office in Njaba Local Government Area of Imo State was set ablaze today Sunday 30th May 2021 

“Although no life was lost, the building was substantially burnt down, along with electoral materials, office equipment and furniture. 

“This latest incident has been reported to the Police for investigation. 

“This attack is coming exactly a week after our office in Abiazu Mbase Local Government Area of the State was vandalized on Sunday 23rd May 2021. It is also the 8th INEC office to be attacked in imo State since the 2019 General Election. 

“The total number of INEC offices attacked nationwide since 2019 has now risen to 42,” he said. 

THE WHISTLER had reported that INEC Chairman, Mahmood Yakubu, had warned that the commission may not be able to effectively conduct elections in 2023 should the attacks on its facilities continue unabated. 

In its reaction to the latest attack, INEC said its “buildings, infrastructure and equipment are critical national assets that guarantee the continuity of electoral activities throughout the federation. 

“Attacking these offices is not in the national interest and has the capacity of compromising electoral activities and the credibility of the democratic process.”

Meanwhile, reports of the attack came hours after unknown gunmen shot dead a former presidential aide and chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Ahmed Gulak, in Owerri. 

President Muhammadu Buhari, while reacting on Sunday, vowed that Gulak’s killers would not go unpunished

AHMED GULAKimo stateInecINEC NIGERIA
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