A fire outbreak has razed an office of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Gwadabawa Local Government Area office in Sokoto State.
The fire, which reportedly erupted in the early hours of Tuesday, 11th February, destroyed many items including furniture and fixtures.
Other items destroyed are movable electoral facilities including 558 ballot boxes, 186 voting enclosures (cubicles), 186 election bags and various Registration Area Centre (RAC) materials such as 12 large water tanks (1,000 litres), 400 sleeping mats and 300 plastic buckets.
This was disclosed in a statement released on Friday by Sam Olumekun, INEC National Commissioner & Chairman Information and Voter Education Committee.
While confirming that no injuries or fatalities were recorded in the incident, Olumekun added that preliminary report from the state office indicated that there was a sudden surge from public power supply before the outbreak.
The statement read, “At its regular weekly meeting held on Thursday 13th February 2025, the Commission took note of a sad incident of fire outbreak in our Gwadabawa Local Government Area office in Sokoto State as reported by the Administrative Secretary in charge of the State office, Mrs. Hauwa Aliyu Kangiwa.
“The fire started in the early hours of the morning on Tuesday 11th February 2025. The entire building was damaged. Items destroyed include furniture and fixtures as well as movable electoral facilities, among them 558 ballot boxes, 186 voting enclosures (cubicles), 186 election bags and various Registration Area Centre (RAC) materials such as 12 large water tanks (1,000 litres), 400 sleeping mats and 300 plastic buckets.
“Preliminary report from our State office indicates that there was a sudden surge from public power supply before the incident. However, the actual cause of the fire outbreak is being investigated by the security and safety agencies which have deployed their personnel to the facility.
“No injuries or fatalities were recorded.
“The Commission is making an effort to find an alternative temporary facility in the Local Government Area so that our activities are not completely disrupted.”
