INEC Reacts To Fire Incident In Anambra, Reveals Next Line Of Action

The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC has reacted to a fire incident that engulfed two containers filled with INEC electoral materials in Anambra State earlier yesterday.

In a statement signed on Tuesday evening, the commission revealed that 4695 card readers were destroyed in the fire. The Statement read;
"Further to our statement of Sunday 10th February 2019, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) regrets to inform the public that there has been another lire incident, this time in its Anambra State office.

This is the third of such incidents in the last 12 days, following closely behind those of Isiala Ngwa and Qua'an Pan Local Government offices in Abia and Plateau States respectively.
While the Commission awaits the details of the latest incident, it notes with some relief that there was no fatality or injury reported. Initial assessment however confirms that a total of 4695 of the Smart Card Readers were destroyed in the inferno.

While this is, no doubt, a setback to our preparations for the smooth conduct of the elections in Anambra State, the Commission has taken immediate measures to ameliorate the situation, by mopping up some of the spare Card Readers from other States to deploy to Anambra State.

With the steps so far taken. the Commission remains confident that the election in the state will proceed as scheduled.

We have in the meantime reported the incident to the Police and the Fire Service and investigations into the cause have commenced.
We take this opportunity to commend the Fire Service for its response, which prevented the spread of the fire and averted more damage."