By Kayode Sanni-Arewa
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has confirmed a fire outbreak at its Gwadabawa Local Government Area office in Sokoto State, causing extensive damage to electoral materials.
In a statement shared on Friday, February 14, 2025, via its official X page, INEC National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, Sam Olumekun, revealed that the incident was reported by the Sokoto State Administrative Secretary, Hauwa Aliyu Kangiwa.
The fire, which occurred in the early hours of Tuesday, February 11, 2025, completely destroyed the building, along with 558 ballot boxes, 186 voting cubicles, 186 election bags, and several Registration Area Centre (RAC) materials, including 12 large water tanks, 400 sleeping mats, and 300 plastic buckets.
Preliminary investigations suggest that a power surge may have triggered the fire, though an official probe by security and safety agencies is ongoing.
In response, INEC has begun efforts to secure a temporary office in Gwadabawa to ensure electoral activities continue without disruption.