Fire Destroys INEC Office in Delta, 706 Ballot Boxes Lost

By Joshua Omoniyi 

In a devastating incident, a fire at the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) office in Owa-Oyibu, Ika North East Local Government Area of Delta State, has resulted in the destruction of critical electoral materials. The blaze, which occurred on the afternoon of December 2, 2024, consumed 706 ballot boxes, 50 election bags, 322 apron vests, three electric generators, 140 stamps, and numerous other items essential for the upcoming elections.

According to a statement from Sam Olumekun, the National Commissioner and Chairman of INEC's Information and Voter Education Committee, the fire was triggered by a sudden power surge following the restoration of public electricity. Fortunately, there were no reported injuries or fatalities during the incident, although the stores section where petrol generators and other materials were kept was completely engulfed in flames.

“The commission held its regular meeting today, Tuesday December 3, 2024. Among various issues discussed, we reviewed a preliminary report from the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) for Delta State, Etekamba Udo Umoren, regarding the fire incident,” Olumekun stated. He emphasized the importance of the destroyed materials, which are vital for facilitating free and fair elections in the region.

The incident has raised concerns about the preparedness for the upcoming elections, especially considering that Ika North East is one of the 25 LGA offices in Delta State, with 14 Registration Areas and 238 Polling Units serving a total of 131,747 registered voters.

INEC has reported the incident to security agencies and emergency services for a thorough investigation. The commission expressed gratitude to the Nigeria Police Force and the Delta State Fire Service for their prompt response to the fire outbreak.

As investigations continue, the electoral body remains focused on ensuring that the electoral process in Delta State is not compromised despite this setback.

This incident follows a series of challenges faced by the electoral commission, which has been striving to maintain the integrity of the electoral process in Nigeria amidst various external pressures.

For further updates on this developing story, stay tuned.