PUNCH

Suspected hoodlums on Saturday midnight attacked the office of the Independent National Electoral Commission in Ijebu-Ijesa, Oriade Local Government Area in Osun State.

During the attack, the suspects were said to have burnt card readers and ballot papers of the just concluded presidential and National Assembly elections.

It was gathered that the hoodlums would have razed down the entire building, but for the timely arrival of security operatives.

A security officer who pleaded anonymity said the incident happened after INEC officials had already declared results of the elections in the local government areas and moved both the staff and some materials to the Senatorial Collation Centre at Ilesa Grammar School.

Another INEC official, who claimed to have witnessed the event and spoke on condition of anonymity, corroborated the security officer’s narrative, saying the commission’s officials had already declared results before the thugs came.

“The hoodlums obviously did not want the result of the elections in the area to be declared. But, they came too late,” the source said.

The INEC spokesperson in Osun State, Mrs Sayo Adedokun, confirmed the incident but said since the result sheets were not affected at all, the hoodlums’ action would not affect the election results.