A devastating fire has ravaged the Ika North East Local Government Area office of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Owa-Oyibu, Delta State. The incident, which occurred on Monday, was reportedly caused by a power surge following the restoration of public electricity.
According to INEC’s National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, Sam Olumekun, the fire gutted the stores section of the office, destroying critical election materials. These included 706 ballot boxes, 50 election bags, 322 apron vests, three electric generators, 140 stamps, and 50 ballot box seals. Various other supplies, such as envelopes, posters, forms, and booklets, were also lost.
Fortunately, no injuries or fatalities were recorded during the incident. INEC has informed security agencies and emergency services to conduct a thorough investigation into the cause of the fire. The Commission commended the Nigeria Police Force and the Delta State Fire Service for their prompt response.
Ika North East LGA is one of 25 INEC offices in Delta State, serving 14 Registration Areas, 238 Polling Units, and 131,747 registered voters.
