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Unknown persons have stolen the Direct Data Capture Machines the Independent National Electoral Commission is using for the ongoing continuous voter registration for Emohua Local Government Area of Rivers State, The Punch reports.
The report said the unidentified persons suspected to be political thugs on Thursday night forcibly gained entry into the INEC office within the premises of the local government secretariat.
A source told the newspaper that the reason for the stealing of the item could be political as some politicians might want to enjoy undue political advantage during the next general election.
Speaking on the incident, the Head of Department, Voter Education and Publicity of INEC in the state, Mr. Edwin Enabor, said the entire local government secretariat was vandalised by the hoodlums.
He, however, explained that no data was lost as a result of the theft of the machine and added that arrangement had been made to configure a new direct data capture machine for the area.
When contacted, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Nnamdi Omoni, confirmed the incident, but added that he had not received inventory of items stolen by the hoodlums.