Flood Sacks INEC Headquarters, Damages Voter Registration Machines, Vehicles
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced that its state headquarters in Benin, Edo State, has been severely affected by flooding following heavy rainfall on Friday.
INEC National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, Sam Olumekun, issued a statement on Saturday in Abuja detailing the extent of the damage.
According to Olumekun, the deluge inundated the office, submerging various assets, including voter enrollment machines intended for the upcoming Continuous Voter Registration (CVR).
“The statement reads: “Our Resident Electoral Commissioner for Edo State, Dr. Anugbum Onuoha, has reported that our State Headquaters in Benin City was completely flooded following a torrential rainfall yesterday Friday 24th May 2024.
“Preliminary assessment shows that the heavy downpour damaged a section of the building. Movable and immovable items were submerged, including vehicles parked at the premises as well as office furniture and equipment.
“Some of the voter enrollment machines already configured for the forthcoming Continuous Voter Registration CVR are affected. However, the Commission is delivering additional machines from the neighbouring States to make up for the shortfall. We are determined to ensure that the CVR in all the 192 Wards across Edo State will proceed on Monday 27th November 2024 as scheduled.
“However, in view of the emergency situation, the State Headquarters will not serve as a registration centre as planned. Instead, the exercise will now take place in our Ikpoba Okha LGA office located at 16 Customs Road, off Benin/Auchi Road, Benin City.
“Meanwhile, the attention of the security agencies and emergency services has been drawn to the incident”.
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