The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) said on Saturday that flood occasioned by heavy rain destroyed part of its state headquarters building in Benin City, the Edo state capital.

The Commission said as a result of the flood, several moveable and immoveable items, including machines being configured for the continuous voter registration exercise, which begins on Monday were affected.

National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee of the Commission, Sam Olumekun, said in a statement that as a result of the incident, the CVR will no longer take place at the commission headquarters in Benin as scheduled.

He said the exercise earlier scheduled for the state headquarters will now take place at the Ikpoba Okha LGA office located at 16 Customs Road, off Benin/Auchi Road, Benin City.

The statement reads: “Our Resident Electoral Commissioner for Edo State, Dr. Anugbum Onuoha, has reported that our State Headquarters in Benin City was completely flooded following a torrential rainfall yesterday Friday 24^thMay 2024.

“Preliminary assessment shows that the heavy downpour damaged a section of the building. Movable and immovable items were submerged, including vehicles parked at the premises as well as office furniture and equipment.

“Some of the voter enrollment machines already configured for the forthcoming Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) are affected.

“However, the Commission is deliveringadditional machines from the neighbouring States to make up for the shortfall. We are determined to ensure that the CVR in all the 192 Wards across Edo State will proceed on Monday 27^thNovember 2024 as scheduled.

“In view of the emergency situation, the State Headquarters will not serve as a registration centre as planned. Instead, the exercise will now take place in our Ikpoba Okha LGA office located at 16 Customs Road, off Benin/Auchi Road, Benin City.

“Meanwhile, the attention of thesecurity agencies and emergency services has been drawn to the incident’. (The Nation)