1 week ago
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The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has confirmed the destruction of 558 ballot boxes, 186 voting enclosures and 186 election bags in a fire incident which engulfed its Gwadabawa Local Government Area office in Sokoto State.
Other items destroyed include various Registration Area Centre (RAC) materials such as 12 large water tanks (1,000 litres), 400 sleeping mats and 300 plastic buckets.
A statement by INEC National Commissioner and Chairman of its Information and Voter Education Committee, Sam Olumekun, said preliminary report from the commission’s State office in Sokoto indicates that there was a sudden surge from public power supply before the incident.
He however said the actual cause of the fire outbreak is being investigated by the security and safety agencies which have deployed their personnel to the facility.
The statement reads, “At its regular weekly meeting held on Thursday February 13 2025, the commission took note of a sad incident of fire outbreak in our
Gwadabawa Local Government Area office in Sokoto State as reported by the Administrative Secretary in charge of the State office, Mrs. Hauwa Aliyu Kangiwa.
“The fire started in the early hours of the morning on Tuesday February 11 2025. The entire building was damaged. Items destroyed include furniture and fixtures as well as movable electoral facilities, among them 558 ballot boxes, 186 voting enclosures (cubicles), 186 election bags and various Registration Area Centre (RAC) materials such as 12 large water tanks (1,000 litres), 400 sleeping mats and 300 plastic buckets.
“Preliminary report from our State office indicates that there was a sudden surge from public power supply before the incident. However, the actual cause of the fire outbreak is being investigated by the security and safety agencies which have deployed their personnel to the facility.
No injuries or fatalities were recorded.
“The commission is making an effort to find an alternative temporary facility in the Local Government Area so that our activities are not completely disrupted.”
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