Hoodlums Attack INEC Officials, Cart Away Registration Machines

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has confirmed that hoodlums attacked its officials in the Igbo-Eze North Local Government Area of Enugu State.

INEC Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, Festus Okoye, who disclosed this in a statement, said the attack led to the loss of two voters registration machines and personal items of the staff involved such as mobile phones.

Okoye added that the electoral officials were involved in the Continuous Voters Registration (CVR) exercise before the gunmen stormed the Community Primary School Umuopu in Umuozzi Ward 19 in the South-Eastern state.

After the Administrative Secretary in Enugu State, Jude Okwuonu, reported the incident to INEC Headquarters, the commission said it decided to suspend the Continuous Voters Registration (CVR) exercise in the affected area.

“The gunmen fired sporadically into the air to disperse registrants and registration officials. In the ensuing stampede, one of our staff sustained injuries and is receiving treatment in a hospital,” the statement read.

“Two voters registration machines and personal items of the staff such as mobile phones were lost. Consequently, Ward level registration of voters in Igboeze North is hereby suspended.”

According to Okoye, the commission has reported the incident to police authorities in Enugu State to commence an investigation.

Attacks on INEC facilities have been frequent in the South-East as the nation prepares for the general elections in seven months’ time.

On July 3, arsonists attacked the INEC office in Igbo-eze North Local Government Area and burnt down the facility.