The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has said no fewer than 5000 card reader machines were destroyed in a fire that razed down its Akure office in Ondo State on Thursday evening.

Thelagostimes had earlier reported that Ondo State Secretariat of the Commission in Alagbaka Akure, was on Thursday night razed by fire.

This came about a month to the October 10 governorship election in the state.

The cause of the inferno was unknown but the fire reportedly destroyed some items in the office.

The fire fire was said to have destroyed no fewer than 5000 card reader machines.

The INEC Commissioner in charge of Information and Voters Education, Festus Okoye, who spoke with journalists at the scene of the incident disclosed that the fire affected the Information and Communication Technology section of the commission, saying over 5100 card readers had been burnt in the inferno.

He explained that about 1000 card readers delivered to INEC from Osun State were also burnt in the fire while over 4000 card readers belonging to INEC in the state were also burnt.