The Edo State Headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Benin City has been severely flooded following torrential rainfall on Friday. Dr. Anugbum Onuoha, the Resident Electoral Commissioner for Edo State, confirmed the extensive damage.
Sam Olumekun, the INEC National Commissioner for Information and Voter Education, stated that a preliminary assessment revealed significant damage to a section of the building. The heavy downpour submerged vehicles, office furniture, and equipment, including voter enrollment machines configured for the upcoming Continuous Voter Registration (CVR).
To address the shortfall, additional machines are being delivered from neighboring states to ensure the CVR in all 192 Wards across Edo State proceeds as scheduled on Monday, May 27, 2024. However, the State Headquarters will no longer serve as a registration center. Instead, the exercise will now take place at the Ikpoba Okha LGA office, located at 16 Customs Road, off Benin/Auchi Road, Benin City.
Emergency services and security agencies have been notified of the incident.
