The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has confirmed a fire outbreak at its office in the Ika North East Local Government Area of Delta State.
In an announcement made on its official X (formerly Twitter) handle on Tuesday, INEC reported that the blaze destroyed a significant amount of electoral materials. These included 706 ballot boxes, 50 election bags, 322 apron vests, and various other items critical to the electoral process.
The statement cited a report from the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) for Delta State, Mr. Etekamba Udo Umoren, who provided details of the incident. According to the report, the fire broke out on Monday afternoon and was caused by a sudden power surge that occurred after public electricity supply was restored.
The section of the building where petrol generators and other materials were stored was completely consumed by the flames. Among the destroyed items were three electric generators, 140 stamps, 50 ballot box seals, and assorted electoral supplies, including envelopes, forms, posters, and booklets.
Thankfully, there were no injuries or loss of life as a result of the fire. The incident has since been reported to the appropriate security and emergency response agencies for a comprehensive investigation.
INEC expressed its gratitude to the Nigeria Police Force and the Delta State Fire Service for their swift response to the emergency. The Commission reiterated its commitment to ensuring a transparent investigation into the cause of the fire and pledged to recover from the loss to minimize any impact on its operations.
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