The Resident Electoral Commissioner in Anambra State, Dr Nkwachukwu Orji, has expressed doubt that the presidential and National Assembly elections will take place in the state on Saturday following the fire incident which on Tuesday destroyed 4,695 card readers meant for the polls.
According to him, the commission will evaluate the scale of the destruction done by the fire before stating whether the elections will hold or not.
Speaking with reporters at the secretariat of the Independent National Electoral Commission in Awka, Orji said, “I can’t tell you here now that the elections will take place in the state on Saturday or not.”
He denied reports the fire might have been caused by electrical faults.
The fire, which started at about 2.30pm, razed a container at the secretariat.
Employees of the commission fled their offices following the incident.
The Independent Electoral Commission (INEC) national headquarters in Abuja confirmed that 4,695 card readers were burnt.
In a statement by its National Commissioner and Chairman of its Information and Voter Education Committee, Festus Okoye, on Tuesday night, INEC said, “There has been another fire incident, this time, in the Anambra State office.
“This is the third of such incidents in the last 12 days, following closely behind those of lsiala Ngwa and Qua’an Pan offices in Abia and Plateau states respectively.
“Initial assessment however confirms that a total of 4, 695 of the smart card readers were destroyed in the inferno.
“While this is, no doubt, a setback for our preparations for the smooth conduct of the elections in Anambra, the commission has taken immediate measures to ameliorate the situation by opting for some of the spare card readers from other states to Anambra State.”
