By PAMELA EBOH, Awka

The National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education, of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Festus Okoye, has lamented the loss of some sensitive materials for the November 6, 2021 governorship election in Anambra State.

He said that the 50% of pre-delivered material were destroyed when the premises went up in flames not too long ago, destroying buildings, equipment and utility vehicles following attack by unknown gunmen.

Speaking at the voter education and publicity department meeting of the commission held in Awka, Anambra State, Okoye said: “50% of sensitive materials were lost when the commission’s head office in the state was attacked by gunmen in May. Materials pre-delivered for the conduct of Anambra State November 6 governorship poll were destroyed

“The Commission places utmost importance in planning and keeping to timelines for the conduct of elections. On the basis of this, the Commission pre-delivered over 50% of the non-sensitive materials for the conduct of the election well ahead of time.

“The Commission was deeply saddened therefore, when the premises of its Anambra State Head Office went up in flames not too long ago, destroying buildings, equipment and utility vehicles.

“We have substantially recovered from the inferno as the Commission is not permitted to wallow in self-pity in the face of a governorship election whose timeline is constitutionally circumscribed and cast in stone.”

The National Commissioner said the Commission is resolute in its commitment to the delivery of good elections, saying that it is determined to ensure that not even the recent ugly incident will undermine the smooth process and delivery of a good governorship election come November 6, 2021.

While urging all the stakeholders to work closely with the Commission in a productive partnership, Okoye said the Awka meeting would afford the commission the opportunity to discuss with stakeholders in the state to embrace the ongoing continuous voter registration exercise.

He added: “The Commission is paying special attention to the CVR in Anambra State to ensure that all those who are eligible to register do so in preparation for the 6th November 2021 election.

“The Commission will deploy additional staff and materials to Anambra State in the next few weeks to accelerate the registration exercise.

“In the next few weeks, the Commission will decide when to suspend the CVR in Anambra State to enable it print the Permanent Voters Card of new registrants and integrate the supplementary voters register with the existing register of voters. Thereafter the CVR will resume in Anambra State after the election.

“As some of you are aware, the new polling units created by the Commission will come into force during the 6th November 2021 Anambra State Governorship election. The people of Anambra State will vote from polling units that are closer and accessible.”

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