A political pressure group, Save Abia Now (SAN) has condemned the setting ablaze of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) office in Obingwa LGA of Abia State.

The group in a statement signed by its Director for Media & Publicity, Comrade Kelechi Nkworie, described the action as the height of desperation by selfish politicians and their agents who know that the tribunal outcome will not be in their favour.

SAN in the statement issued yesterday in Umuahia asserted that efforts made to access materials in the council headquarters for forensic examination failed due to the activities of the paid political thugs of the opposition. It described the plot as “a conspiracy to destroy evidence against the massive fraud at the polls.” It lamented that the INEC office was burnt down now the tribunal had ordered INEC to transfer materials to Umuahia for forensic examination.

INEC had been recently asked by the Abia Governorship Election Tribunal to transfer all election materials for the local government used during the election to Umuahia for inspection by August 3. SAN asked: “How come just a day to the delivery OF INEC materials to Umuahia for inspection the INEC office was set on fire.” It alleged that the ruling party is afraid that the electoral materials in the burnt office would jeopardise its case at the tribunal.

The group alleged that the fire incident was a deliberate Action by some disgruntled Elements who wants to occupy public office through electoral fraud. It appealed to security agents to thoroughly investigate the incident with a view to fishing out the culprits.

•Photo by Boniface Okoro shows the burnt INEC office in Abia.