Gov. Oluwarotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State has come out to say that the fire incident that destroyed 5,141 card reader machine at the Akure headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) was an unfortunate and worrisome incident.

He disclosed this during an on the spot assessment visit to the scene of the incident at the INEC office in Akure.

According to him, the sad event is disheartening and unwholesome but INEC will have his utmost support as a government.

He added that he hopes the well-intended desire of the State Government to assist the electoral body at reducing the effects of the incident will not be termed as compromising the integrity of INEC.

“The unfortunate occurrence is disheartening and unwholesome. However, we want to assure INEC of our support as a government.

“I hope that the well-intended desire of the State Government to assist the electoral body at assuaging the effects of the incident will not be termed as compromising the integrity of INEC.”

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Oluwarotimi Odunayo Akeredolu, SAN, or Rotimi Akeredolu, (born 21 July 1956) is a Nigerian politician and lawyer who is also the Governor of Ondo State, Nigeria and also a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) who became president of the Nigerian Bar Association in 2008.

Akeredolu was also a Managing Partner at the Law Firm of Olujinmi & Akeredolu, a Law Firm he co-founded with Chief Akin Olujinmi, a former Attorney General and Minister for Justice in Nigeria.

Akeredolu was born on 21 July 1956 in Owo to Reverend J. Ola Akeredolu of the Akeredolu family and Lady Evangelist Grace B. Akeredolu of Aderoyiju family of Igbotu, Ese Odo, in Ondo State. Akeredolu started his primary education at Government School, Owo. He proceeded to Aquinas College, Akure, Loyola College, Ibadan and Comprehensive High School, Ayetoro, for his secondary school education and Higher School Certificate, respectively.

His middle name “Odunayo” means “Year of happiness” in Yoruba He went on to the University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University) to study Law, graduating in 1977. He was called to the Nigerian Bar 1978.