By Cajetan Mmuta
The National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Mr. Festus  Okoye have expressed sadness over the huge loss when the premises of its Anambra State Head Office went up in flames which led to the destruction of buildings, equipment and utility vehicles in May this year.

Okoye noted that about 50% of nonsensitive materials pre-delivered for the conduct of the November 6 governorship election were destroyed by gunmen who attacked the commission’s headquarters.

Speaking at the voter education and publicity department meeting of the commission in Awka, the Anambra State capital he said” The Commission places the 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”.

According to him, “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.

He said, “The Commission is resolute in its commitment to the delivery of good elections. It is determined therefore to ensure that not even the recent ugly incident will undermine the smooth process and delivery of a good governorship election in Anambra State come 6th November 2021. We enjoin 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.

“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.

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“In the next few weeks, the Commission will decide when to suspend the CVR in Anambra State to enable it to 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” Okoye added.