Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu this morning visited unscheduled visit to the scene of inferno at the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC headquarters in Akure, Ondo State where some vital election materials were destroyed.
SUNSHINETRUTH reports that the governor who vowed to support the commission, expressed shock over the unwholesome development.
He noted that the fire must have been very serious following offensive smokes emanating from the scene as at sixteen hours thereafter
Akeredolu maintained that the replacement of the destroyed gadgets especially the card readers would be of great cost particularly in less than a month to the governorship election hence for the state’s support
The fire incident which occurred at about half past eight yesterday destroyed the two containers where the card readers meant for the conduct of the state’s Governorship election slated for tenth of next month were kept.
Governor Akeredolu was accompanied to the scene of the fire incident by his running mate, Hon. Lucky Aiyedatiwa.
The Governor said: “we sympathise with you and the people of the state are with you in this calamitous situation.
“There is no doubt it will be at great cost to the election but we are delighted that despite the damage, the commission still assured us that the election will still hold October 10.
“Whatever you think we can do that it won’t be misinterpreted as being partisan, we are ready to assist the commission”, Akeredolu stated.
Earlier, the INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in the state, Ambassador Rufus Akeju disclosed that the fire started yesterday (Thursday) around 7.30 pm.
He said investigation is still ongoing to unravel the caused of the inferno.
Akeju further noted that the incident might have been caused by a power surge from the container where the Card Readers were being charged.