The Independent National Electoral Commission Returning Officer in Abia State Professor Nnenna Oti has revealed that she received threats and financial inducements during the collation process for the governorship election in the state.
Oti, the vice chancellor of Federal University of Technology Owerri was speaking after she was received by management and students of the school on Wednesday.
The REC said she stood by her decision to ensure that the will of the people of Abia prevailed.
“As an electoral officer, I have never in my life participated in any election, but duty came calling, I made my enquiries from Abuja and I said if I perish, I perish,” Oti said.
“They came with their threats, they came with their money, they came with their intimidation.
”I didn’t start today; I stand here before God, I have never defrauded anyone. I declared the riot act as follows: Under me, votes must count. Under me, the people’s mandate will be upheld because I, Professor Nnnena Oti, can never do evil.”
Recall that Labour Party candidate Alex Otti was declared winner of the election after collation had been initially suspended after thugs invaded the INEC office in Obingwa LGA. The assailants held the INEC officials hostage before they were released, prompting the electoral commission to call for a review of the process.
