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INEC assures elections will hold in A’Ibom as it replaces 198 card readers, voter register

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Less than 24 hours after one of its offices in Akwa Ibom was razed with fire, the Independent National Electoral Commission (lNEC) has announced that it has replaced the 198 smart card readers, voter register and other items destroyed in the fire.

INEC doused fears that the fire incident at its office in Ibesikpo Asutan Local Government Area of the state in the early hours of Friday morning would cause postponement of polls.

The commission has promised to go ahead with Saturday’s Governorship and State Assembly Elections in Akwa Ibom state.

This was revealed in a statement issued Friday night in Abuja and signed by National Commissioner and Chairman of its Information and Voted Education Committee, Festus Okoye.

READ ALSO: Election uncertain in Akwa Ibom as fire guts INEC office hours to polls

The statement reads in part, “While we do not at this point know the cause of the fire, a report has been made to the law enforcement agencies and the Fire Service. We are liaising closely with both agencies to investigate and ascertain the cause of the fire and if found to be a deliberate act, we will ensure diligent and vigorous prosecution of those responsible.

“Several sensitive and non-sensitive materials for tomorrow’s Governorship and State House of Assembly elections were destroyed including 198 Smart Card Readers, the printed Register of Voters, 13 Generators as well as several Voting Cubicles and office equipment.

“Fortunately, the ballot papers and result sheets for the elections were not affected and are intact. Acting timeously, the Commission has been able to replace and reconfigure all the destroyed Smart Card Readers and reprinted the Register of Voters. With the replacement and the salvage of other items, we are pleased to announce that the election will proceed as scheduled. All registered voters in the Local Government Area are therefore requested to turn up to cast their votes between 8am and 2pm tomorrow”.

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