INEC Staff has been Shot Dead
A staff of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Mr. Nwokorie Anthony, has been shot dead in Imo State.
The official was killed during a Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise in Ihitte Uboma Local Government Area of the State.
Nwokorie was killed at Nkwo Ihitte (PU 004) in Amakohia Ward (RA 02) of Ihitte Uboma LGA, according to the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Prof. Emeka Ezeonu, while the whereabouts of two other staff involved in the registration exercise were unknown.
Also Read : BREAKING: House of Assembly Speaker dumps APC, Joins PDP
The electoral commission in the LGA has suspended the election due to the tragic incident.
Festus Okoye, an INEC National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, made the announcement on Thursday.
“Prior to this incident, the commission had suspended the CVR in the state’s Orsu and Njaba Local Government Areas due to insecurity, while the exercise is now only taking place at the INEC LGA office in the state’s Oru East, Oru West, Orlu, and Ohaji-Egbema Local Government Areas.”
“The commission expresses its condolences to Nwokorie Anthony’s family and prays that God will give them the strength to bear their loss.” The incident has been reported to security agencies, who will investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident and bring the perpetrators to justice, according to Okoye.
Also Read : Freddy Rincon: Details on how Colombia great star of 1990 World Cup died emerges
He urged the President Generals of Imo State’s various Town Unions, as well as all critical stakeholders, to protect commission staff working on national assignments.
“The safety and security of our staff is of paramount importance to the commission,” he said, “particularly with the devolution of the voter registration exercise beyond our state and local government area offices across the country in our determination to better serve Nigerians.”
