Abia State Governor, Okezie Ikpeazu, yesterday described those behind the fire incident at the office of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) at Mgboko, headquarters of Obingwa Local Government, as enemies of the state.
Ikpeazu who visited the scene expressed shock at the level of damage, and charged police and other law enforcement agencies to ensure that the culprits were brought to book.
The governor also called on the police and Army to beef up security around all INEC offices.
The office was burnt down on Sunday, Daily Trust gathered.
A resident of the staff quarters at the council headquarters at Mgboko, said, “We came back from church and saw a thick smoke around the INEC office. After a short while, security operatives cordoned off the area. The fire almost touched the Education and Social Development building before it was put out”.
At the time of filing this report, it was not clear if electoral materials were burnt in the inferno. Obingwa Local Government Area is among the areas where election results are being contested by parties at the tribunal.
Abia State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Ezekiel Onyeke, confirmed the incident, but added that cause of the fire was yet to be ascertained.