INEC replaces burnt I98 Smart Card Readers in Akwa Ibom

The Independent National Electoral Commission (lNEC) said it has replaced and reconfigured the 198 Smart Card Readers that were on Friday burnt in its office in lbesikpo Asutan Local Government, Area of Akwa lbom State.

Mr Festus Okoye, INEC National Commissioner and Chair, Information and Voter Education Committee (IVEC), in a statement issued on Friday in Abuja said that in spite of the incident, polls in the state would proceed as scheduled.

Okoye said that the commission witnessed a fire incident its office, which occured in the early hours of Friday.

He said that several sensitive and non-sensitive materials for Saturday‘s Governorship and State House of Assembly elections were destroyed including 198 Smart Card Readers, the printed Register of Voters, 13 generating sets as well as several Voting Cubicles and office equipment were destroyed by the fire.

“Fortunately, the ballot papers and result sheets for the elections were not affected and are intact.

“Acting on time, the Commission has been able to replace and reconfigure all the destroyed Smart Card Readers and reprinted the Register of Voters.

“With the replacement and the salvage of other items, we are pleased to announce that the election will proceed as scheduled.