A fire incident at the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) office in Ika North East Local Government Area, Delta State, has destroyed critical election materials. The fire, which broke out on Monday afternoon, December 2, 2024, was caused by a sudden power surge following the restoration of public electricity supply, according to a preliminary report from the Resident Electoral Commissioner for Delta State, Mr. Etekamba Udo Umoren.
The affected section of the building housed the stores where essential items were kept, including 706 ballot boxes, 50 election bags, 322 apron vests, three electric power generators, 140 stamps, 50 ballot box seals, and various other election-related materials such as envelopes, posters, forms, and booklets.
INEC confirmed that no lives were lost and no injuries were reported in the incident. However, the destruction of these materials could pose challenges for upcoming elections in the area.
Security agencies and emergency services have been notified to investigate the fire thoroughly. Meanwhile, the Commission has commended the swift response from the Nigeria Police Force and the Delta State Fire Service, which helped prevent further damage.
Ika North East Local Government Area, which serves 14 Registration Areas (Wards), 238 Polling Units, and has a total of 131,747 registered voters, is one of 25 INEC offices in Delta State.
INEC’s National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, Sam Olumekun, stated that the Commission will work diligently to assess the impact of the loss and ensure adequate measures are in place to maintain the integrity of elections in the affected area.
Further updates will be provided as investigations continue.
