BREAKING: Gunmen set ablaze newly built INEC office in Imo

A week after its office in Ahiazu Mbaise Local Government Area of the state was vandalised, gunmen have again set ablaze the newly built office of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Njaba Local Government Area in the South-East state.

It was learnt that the burnt office was commissioned shortly before the 2019 General Elections.

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

Okoye further revealed that the Sunday attack was the eighth INEC office to be attacked in Imo State since the 2019 general elections.

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

Sunday wreckage of its Njaba local government office had since increased the attacks on INEC offices across the country to 42.

The Commission restated its concern that the ongoing vandalisation of its offices constitute a threat to the conduct of the next general elections.

“INEC 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.”