The House of Representatives has mandated its Committees on Electoral Matters and Interior to investigate the root causes of the destruction of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) offices in Nigeria.
The committees are to also investigate fire outbreaks and ascertain the level of compliance to fire safety regulations of INEC offices nationwide.
This followed a motion on the Call to Prevent Further Attacks on the Offices of INEC Nationwide unanimously adopted at the plenary.
Presenting the motion, Mr Dachung Bagos, a member from Plateau State, observed that in the past 24 months, at least 19 INEC offices have been gutted by fire with a ratio of one INEC office per month
He expressed concern that ”if nothing is done to forestall future occurrences, there will not be adequate INEC offices to coordinate the 2023 and off-season elections in Nigeria.”
The House noted ”the increased attacks on the offices of the Independent National Electoral Commission across the country and the most affected States includes Akwa Ibom, Abia, Anambra, Imo, Borno, Ebonyi, Jigawa, Kano, Ondo, Plateau, Rivers and the Federal Capital Territory with about 11 of the offices burnt down by hoodlums.”
It was worried that in the past 24 months, at least 19 INEC offices have been gutted by fire with a ratio of one INEC office per month.
The House was concerned that if nothing is done to forestall future occurrences; there will not be adequate INEC offices to coordinate the 2023 and off-season elections in Nigeria.
It also expressed concern that no one has been arrested and prosecuted for the criminal acts.
Adopting the motion, the House urged the Nigerian Government to provide adequate security in all offices of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) across the country.
Mercy Chukwudiebere
