The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has confirmed that election materials at its Oredo Local Government office in Edo State remain intact, despite an attempted attack by hoodlums.
According to reports, thugs targeted the office shortly after the materials had been delivered from the Central Bank branch in Benin City on Thursday.
The distribution of materials to all 18 local governments in the state had begun around 12 noon.
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When visited on Friday by a team, including YIAGA Africa, security personnel had blocked one lane of the highway in front of the office, with police officers setting up roadblocks to control access, allowing only official vehicles through.
This led to significant traffic congestion along Ekewuan Road, as motorists were limited to the single open lane.
N.S. Osakue, the assistant electoral officer for the local government, reassured that all the election materials were secure and unaffected by the incident.
“People came, they were on their own, and we are on our own. Our materials are intact. Our materials are intact,” Mrs Osakue said while declining to comment on the attack.
She noted that there is an established means of communication.
“We have the Public Affairs Department; they are the only ones who can address the media,” she said.
Nnamdi Aduba, a member of the YIAGA team, remarked that INEC should take a more proactive approach in sharing information to help ease concerns and reassure the public.
“Some people outside, who know you, when they hear the news (of the attack), will be scared. Sometimes, your superiors do not understand the implications of what is happening,” he said.
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