The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has confirmed that its office in Gwadabawa Local Government Area of Sokoto State was gutted by fire, leading to the destruction of critical electoral materials.
In a statement released on Friday, INEC National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, Mr. Sam Olumekun, said the fire outbreak occurred in the early hours of Tuesday, February 11, 2025.
According to the commission, the incident was reported by the Administrative Secretary in charge of the Sokoto State office, Mrs. Hauwa Aliyu Kangiwa.
“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,” Olumekun said.
“Preliminary report from our state office indicates that there was a sudden surge from the public power supply before the incident.”
He, however, said the actual cause of the fire outbreak was being investigated by the security and safety agencies, adding that no injuries or fatalities were recorded.
He said the commission was making efforts to find an alternative, temporary facility in the local government area so its activities would not be completely disrupted.
