The Independent National Electoral Commission announced on Saturday that heavy rainfall caused flooding that severely damaged part of its state headquarters building in Benin City, the Edo state capital.
According to the Commission, the flood affected several movable and immovable items, including machines being prepared for the continuous voter registration exercise set to begin on Monday.
The National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, Sam Olumekun, stated that due to the incident, the CVR will no longer be held at the INEC headquarters in Benin as planned. Instead, the exercise will now be conducted at the Ikpoba Okha LGA office, located at 16 Customs Road, off Benin/Auchi Road, Benin City.
The statement said, “Our Resident Electoral Commissioner for Edo State, Dr. Anugbum Onuoha, has reported that our State Headquarters in Benin City was completely flooded following a torrential rainfall yesterday, Friday 24th May 2024.
“Preliminary assessment shows that the heavy downpour damaged a section of the building. Movable and immovable items were submerged, including vehicles parked at the premises as well as office furniture and equipment.
“Some of the voter enrollment machines already configured for the forthcoming Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) are affected.
“However, the Commission is delivering additional machines from the neighbouring States to make up for the shortfall. We are determined to ensure that the CVR in all the 192 Wards across Edo State will proceed on Monday 27th November 2024 as scheduled.
“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 our Ikpoba Okha LGA office located at 16 Customs Road, off Benin/Auchi Road, Benin City.
“Meanwhile, the attention of the security agencies and emergency services has been drawn to the incident.”
