Fire Outbreak: We won't postpone the election ---INEC

The headquarters of Independent Electoral Commission (INEC) in Akure was reportedly on Fire in the late hour of yesterday 

The fire, which was reported to have  started at about 8:20 pm gutted the container housing Smart Card Readers. 

It was gathered that the fire also destroyed some items in a section of the office and over 5,000 smart card readers prepared for the October 10 election also got burnt. 

However, when men of the State Fire Service arrived at the scene shortly after the fire started, they were helpless as their trucks refused to work.

The National Commissioner in charge of Information and Voter Education, Mr. Festus Okoye and the Ondo State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Mr. Rufus Akeju expressed shock at the incident.

According to a source in the commission, the National Commissioner, Mr Festus Okoye, who is in Ondo State in connection with preparations for the Ondo State Governorship election scheduled for October 10, 2020, rushed to the office at about 8pm.

Okoye noted that though the fire is a setback but promised that it will not affect the conduct and date of the governorship election.

"INEC would find means of securing another set of card readers since its a state election"

"The commission would move card reader machines from other states to ondo state for the purpose of conducting the governorship as scheduled.

"The commission would leave no stone unturned as to unravel the cause of the fire incident."

Mr Okoye added that the commission would find a lasting solution to ensuring safety of its electoral materials and members of staff.