KADSIEC explains how fire destroys office

THE chairman Kaduna state Independent Electoral Commission, Mrs Saratu Binta Dikko-Audu has disclosed that all the offices on the 2nd floor of the two storey building were gutted by fire.

Speaking on the fire incident, she said the fire started around 10.30 am on Saturday and affected the offices of Chairman, legal and finance departments and conference room.

She said, “No life was lost, and there were no injuries recorded. At the time the fire started, the members of the Commission were in an emergency meeting in the Chairman’s office.”

She, however, declined further questioning by newsmen.

Reacting on the fire accident, a front-runner for the Kaduna Central senatorial seat under the platform of All Progressives Congress, Alhaji Lawal Adamu popularly known as Mr LA described the incident as unfortunate and a drawback to the efforts of the state government and the APC to build strong democratic institutions.

Mr LA, who spoke through an aide, Abdulazeez Suleiman, said it is regrettable that such ugly incident should occur at a time when the state is preparing for election into local government offices.

“With the local government poll just a few weeks away, this incident is indeed lamentable”, the senatorial hopeful said while praying God to prevent such occurrences in the future.

However, the Green Party of Nigeria (GPN) has commiserated KAD-SIECOM and the state government over the unfortunate fire incidence but insisted that the election must hold as scheduled.

Chairman, GPN in Kaduna, Ahmed Mohammed Zagi in a statement said, his party believed in true and genuine democracy and of the view that the local government areas which are the closest to the grassroots deserve to be administered by elected representatives at the council and ward levels.

ALSO READ: Things you should know about Senator Ovie Omo-Agege

“GPN has committed a lot of resources in preparing for the poll and would not hesitate to seek redress in a court of law if the poll fails to hold as scheduled.

We, therefore, insist that the local council poll will still hold as scheduled, while calling on the state government and law enforcement agencies to fully investigate the incidences surrounding the fire outbreak to erase suspicions of sabotage from those who may not want the polls to hold”, he added.

Meanwhile, combined security operatives have since taken over the premises while media and other staff of the Commission were barred from entering the burnt spot for reasons best known to them while the investigation into immediate and remote causes are in progress.