INEC To Nwosu: RECENT FIRE OUTBREAK WILL NOT STOP ELECTIONS IN ANAMBRA

INEC To Nwosu: RECENT FIRE OUTBREAK WILL NOT STOP ELECTIONS IN ANAMBRA

Thursday, 13th February, 2019, the Federal Commissioner, Public Complaints Commission, Anambra State, Prince SamBen Nwosu, made an on the spot investigation at the Anambra INEC office in Awka where there was fire outbreak on 12th February, 2019.

The Ombudsman was received on arrival with his invest team by the Anambra INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner, Dr. Nkwachukwu Orji.

Prince Samben Nwosu inquired the cause of the inferno of which the INEC REC explained that the fire outbreak started around 2:11pm while he was in a crucial meeting with stakeholders, while the second fire outbreak occurred around 10:50 pm the fateful day.

The fire, according to the REC, burnt election materials, especially the smart card readers which were inside two 40-feet containers.

The burnt smart card readers which were to be used for election were 4,695 and 1,118 which were kept for reserve.

Dr. Orji said that the fire was as a result of electrical fault from the air conditioners in the said 40-feet containers.

Prince Nwosu asked if the election would still hold in Anambra with the development on ground; and if yes, how credible would it be. Dr. Orji was able to convince the Federal Commissioner that election will still hold. He said that smart card readers will come from the reserves from different states of the federation of which most of them have already arrived and are being configured for optimum performance, while the remaining ones are being expected from Abuja.

He assured the Ombudsman that the card readers will function effectively and that eligible voters should come out en masse to cast their votes.

Prince Nwosu, while commiserating with INEC over the development, appealed to the Commission to be vigilant so as to forestall future occurrence, and to ensure that there is transparency in the forthcoming elections.