Attacks: Replacing All Destroyed Items Very Difficult –
Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in four months a total of 1,993 ballot boxes, 399 voting cubicles, 22 electric power generators and thousands of uncollected PVCs were, among other materials, destroyed.
INEC, however, lamented there is a limit to its ability to keep replacing wantonly destroyed materials with just 86 days to the general election.
The chairman, INEC, Prof
Mahmood Yakubu disclosed this in Lagos yesterday at an induction retreat for new Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECS).
Yakubu while describing the attacks as mindless attacks, said the attacks must stop and the perpetrators apprehended and prosecuted.
He said, "I want to reassure Nigerians that we will recover from these attacks. The lost materials will be replaced but there is a limit to our ability to keep replacing wantonly destroyed materials with just 86 days until the general elections.
"The security agencies, traditional and community leaders and all well-meaning Nigerians should continue to support the Commission to stop the attacks but the ultimate solution is arrest and prosecution so that vandals and arsonists do not feel that bad behaviour is an acceptable conduct in our country."
On the attacks on its facilities and the destruction of critical electoral assets in the country, he said, "In the last four months, five Local Government Area offices of the Commission were attacked by yet unknown persons.
"Buildings have been destroyed and materials lost in Udenu and Igboeze North Local Areas of Enugu State, Abeokuta South Local Government of Ogun State, Ede South Local Government Area of Osun State and, most recently, in Izzi Local Government Area of Ebonyi State."