The headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission in Akure, Ondo State, was on Thursday evening gutted by fire.
The fire started at about 7.30pm.
It destroyed no fewer than 5,000 card readers packed in a container.
The gubernatorial election in the state is billed to hold on October 10, 2020.
The Chief Press Secretary to the INEC chairman, Mr. Rotimi Oyekanmi, confirmed the incident in a statement.
He said that the men of the Fire Service were however currently containing the fire.
The National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voters Education Committee, Festus Okoye, who is in Ondo State in connection with preparations for the Ondo State Governorship election scheduled for 10th October 2020, rushed to the office at about 8pm.
The Administrative Secretary of the State, Mr. Popoola and some staff of the commission were also there.
Okoye said investigation into the cause of the fire will commence promptly after the fire has been contained.
The state resident electoral commissioner, Rufus Akeju, was also there.
The INEC officials who expressed shock over the fire incident, however said that though the incident was a setback, it would not affect the October 10 governorship election in the state.
