Flood destroys 3.700 card readers at INEC office in Edo State

Over 3,700 card readers have been destroyed by flood at the Edo State headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), prompting the commission to consider relocating the state headquarters.

According to The Nation, workers usually had to scamper for safety whenever there is heavy downpour. This has been the situation for three weeks. Abubakar Nahuche, Chairman, INEC Standing Committee on Estate and Works, who spoke after the recent damage was assessed, noted that several electoral materials were destroyed.  

According to him, Information Communication Technology equipment was also damaged. However, he said the incident would not affect the commission’s preparation for the 2019 elections.  He appealed to state government to address the issue of flooding in Ikpoba-Hill area, where the state headquarters is located.  

Emmanuel Alex-Hart, Edo Resident Electoral Commissioner, who spoke on the incident, said: 'the flooding has paralysed activities at the INEC headquarters in Edo. Where the office is situated is a valley and when it rains, you have surface run-off of water from all the areas to that place'.