In a troubling incident, suspected hoodlums have set fire to the Akwa Ibom State Independent Electoral Commission (AKISIEC) office located in Ibiatuk, within the Ibiono Ibom Local Government Area. This occurred just hours before the local government elections were set to begin.
Fortunately, no injuries were reported, and electoral materials remained intact, according to ASP Timfon John, the Public Relations Officer for the Akwa Ibom Police. He confirmed the details of the incident and reassured the public that the voting process was continuing as scheduled. “As of press time, voters were exercising their rights,” he stated.
To bolster security, the Police Command has dispatched additional personnel to AKISIEC offices statewide to prevent any further disturbances.
Despite the proactive measures, the election was not without its challenges. Many polling units experienced delays, particularly regarding the late arrival of election materials. For instance, at Unit 001 in Ward 14 of the Uyo Local Government Area, no election materials or AKISIEC officials were present as of 10:02 AM.
A similar lack of preparation was noted at Unit 2 in Ward 11 of the Itu Local Government Area, where both electoral materials and security personnel were missing.
Nevertheless, local government elections continued amid these difficulties, with efforts made to secure polling stations and ensure the safety of voters.
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