By Towncriernews
The heavy downpour on Friday that caused flooding has wrecked havoc on the Edo State Head Office of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) causing an unquantified damage to property.
In a viral video, the perimeter fence of the INEC office was reportedly destroyed by the heavy flooding occasioned by the last Friday night’s downpour.
Vehicles parked at INEC premises office were not spared as they were also submerged among other valuables including operational gadgets as well as office furniture and equipment.
Reacting to the incident, INEC
National COMMISSIONER and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, Sam Olumekun in a statement made available to newsmen quoting the Resident Electoral Commissioner for Edo State, Dr. Anugbum Onuoha, has said the INEC State Headquaters in Benin City following a torrential rainfall yesterday Friday 24th May 2024 that preliminary assessment shows that the heavy downpour damaged a section of the building.
He said that 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 May 2024 as scheduled.
“However, 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.”Olumekun said.
Also flooded were some parts of the Government Reservation Area, Upper Sakponba, Aduwawa axis, Agbor Road, while the Ikpoba rivet also broke its bank.
The road leading to the Appeal Court beside the INEC office and the court were also submerged.
Meanwhile, Edo State Government has sympathized with the good people of the State over the impact of the recent flash flood across Benin City, as a result of heavy down pour on Friday, May 24, 2024.
Edo State Commissioner of Communication and Orientation,
Chris Nehikhare in a statement made available to newsmen in Benin City on Saturday said government had also deployed its officials to desilt drains and clear flood pathways in different parts of the State preparatory to the predicted flooding across flood-prone sites and lowland areas across the State.
He said, “The Nigerian Metrological Agency (NIMET) had few weeks ago warned of heavy flooding from torrential rains.
“We had taken the alerts seriously and embarked on responsive strategies across the state’s flood management sites, especially retention ponds and other infrastructure to limit the impact of the flooding.
“Despite these, the heavy down pour of May 24, 2024, which lasted for over 15 hours, had stressed various flood flash points in the State, resulting in overflowing of the banks.
“The State’s Command and Control Centre has since been responding to emergency calls from the impact of the incident, dispatching response teams to provide support and emergency care to areas most impacted by the incident. These efforts would be sustained.”Nehikhare said.