By Joy Odor
The Edo State Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC), Anugbum Onuoha has affirmed that following a torrential rainfall on Friday 24th May, 2024, the State Headquarters in Benin City has been completely taken over by flood.
In a press statement signed by the National Commissioner & Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee (IVEC), Sam Olumekun, preliminary assessment showed that the heavy downpour damaged a section of the building.
Olumekun informed that in view of the emergency situation, the State Headquarters will not serve as a registration centre as planned, instead the exercise will now take place in the Commission’s Ikpoba Okha LGA office located at 16 Customs Road, off Benin/Auchi Road, Benin City.
Olumekun explained that this is inview to the submerged of movable and immovable items including vehicles parked at the premises as well as office furniture and equipment by the flood.
He maintained that INEC is determined to ensure that the CVR in all the 192 Wards across Edo State will proceed on Monday 27th November 2024 as scheduled.
Olumekun highlighted that some of the voter enrollment machines already configured for the forthcoming Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) are affected, saying the Commission is delivering additional machines from the neighbouring States to make up for the shortfall.
The Commission therefore confirmed that the attention of the security agencies and emergency services has been drawn to the incident.
