An iNEC card reader

Jethro Ibileke/Benin

Edo State Resident Commissioner of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Mr. Sam Olumekun, Friday announced that an unidentified man who disguised as a Youth Corps member stole a smart card reader ‎belonging to the Commission in Igarra, Akoko-Edo local government area of the State.

The man was said to have gained access into the training venue of Presiding Officers and Assistant Presiding Officers of the Commission in the area, where he smuggled out the card reader last Monday.

Olumekun who confirmed the incident in a statement signed by the Administrative Secretary, Oscar-Less Amaechi, described it as a ploy to tarnish the image of the Igarra people.

He however disclosed that the stolen smart card reader had not been configured for next Saturday’s governorship election in state.

“The Independent National Electoral Commission has observed the ploy to tarnish the good image of the good people of Akoko-Edo LGA, especially the inhabitants of Igarra.

“It is a challenge for the people of Akoko-Edo to fish out the impostor who, during the training of Presiding Officers and Assistant Presiding Officers made away with the training smart‎ card reader, which has not been configured for election”, he said.

The REC who warned that disrupting the electoral process and credibility of the election would not be tolerated, said the matter has been reported to relevant security agencies to apprehend the suspect and his collaborators.

“The INEC is using this medium to send a warning signal to all those who may be planning to disrupt the commission’s processes on election day to have a rethink because the law enforcement agents will descend on them,”‎ the statement said.