The All Progressives Congress, APC in Ibesikpo Asutan local government chapter of Akwa Ibom State has called on all security agencies to investigate what it called fire incident which occurred at Independent National Electoral Commision, INEC’s office in the area to bring its perpetrators to book.
The INEC’s office in the area was gutted by unknown fire in the Friday morning resulting in the destruction of its Card Readers and ballot boxes.
A press release issued by Joe Okon, Chairman, APC, Ibesikpo Asutan Chapter also called on INEC to make full disclosure of all election materials destroyed and compromised by the fire incident.
Entitled: “This Mysterious Fire Must be Investigated,” the release said “We received reports this morning that a mysterious fire gutted part of the Ibesikpo Asutan Local Government office of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, in the early hours of this morning.’’
“We gathered from interactions with the Divisional Police Officer in charge of the Local Government that once the fire incident was noticed, the state Fire Service Department was immediately contacted but their response was terribly slow.
“We understand that some sensitive election materials were gutted by the fire while other were saved and evacuated in a process that may have compromised their handling integrity.”
According to it, “This fire incident is quite suspicious coming on the eve of a most critical election that the ruling People’s Democratic Party, PDP, has vowed to win at all cost.
“The fire incident may just be a smoke screen to distract attention from current reports that sensitive election materials for the state have found their way into the possession of PDP as part of the unholy marriage between INEC and the PDP in our state. This will be very unfortunate and the All Progressives Congress will reject every move that compromises the sanctity and integrity of tomorrow’s election in the local government area.”
The release advised “All election materials dispatched to the local government must be immediately audited to establish the extent of compromise. We will not accept materials that have been compromised or handled in any way that is not consistent with electoral process.
“We are calling on all security agencies to step in and investigate this strange fire incident. We are also calling on INEC to make full disclosure of all election materials destroyed and compromised by the fire incident.
‘We expect INEC to take all steps necessary to assure all the parties that in spite of the fire, Saturday’s election will be free and fair and the sanctity of election process and materials guaranteed.
“The security agencies must step in and investigate this matter and bring its perpetrators to book.”
