Akwa Ibom Decides: The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) said it has replaced and reconfigured the 198 card readers that were burnt on Friday in its office in lbesikpo Asutan Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State.

In a statement issued on Friday in Abuja, the INEC National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, Mr Festus Okoye, said in spite of the incident, polls in the state would proceed as scheduled.

Okoye said the commission witnessed a fire incident its office, which occurred in the early hours of Friday.

He said several sensitive and non-sensitive materials for Saturday‘s Governorship and State House of Assembly elections which included 198 card readers, the printed register of voters, 13 generating sets as well as several voting cubicles and office equipment were destroyed by the fire.

Okoye said, “Fortunately, the ballot papers and result sheets for the elections were not affected and are intact.

“Acting on time, the commission has been able to replace and reconfigure all the destroyed smart card readers and reprinted the register of voters.

“With the replacement and the salvage of other items, we are pleased to announce that the election will proceed as scheduled.

“All registered voters in the Local Government Area are therefore requested to turn up to cast their votes between 8 am and 2 pm tomorrow.