Tina Amanda
Independent National Electoral Commission INEC Rivers State has suspended further collation of 2023 Presidential results in the state.
INEC State Presidential Collation Officer Professor Teddy Charles Adias, who is also the Vice Chancellor of Federal University Otuoke Bayelsa, stated this at the INEC Headquarters Port Harcourt.
He said the collation process is suspended due to the severe threat to his life.
Professor Adias explained that he had received over a million threatening calls and messages on his phone, noting that he can not continue the collation process except INEC can address the issue on the ground.
The Professor said further that his job as the Presidential Collation Officer is limited to only receiving reports, noting that he is not privy to any results as alleged in some quarters, neither is he involved in the collation of results, counting of results or computing processes.
He, however, called on the security agencies to intervene and provide him with the necessary security
“It is common knowledge to suspect the possible concern of free and fair election, generating lots of attitude among stakeholders. For the avoidance of doubt, my role in this election is related to the mere receiving of results
“I am not privy to any part or previous emanating from the conduct of elections as presented here. I am not involved in accreditation nor in the computation of votes of any political party.
“My life is being threatened and that of my family because I was elected to serve my dear country and contribute to the success of the ongoing election. In the meantime, I wish to adjourn to enable the Resident Electoral Commissioner REC for Rivers State and the INEC to address the problem
“By this happenings, I wish to alert the security agencies and the public of the threat to my life and request any necessary protection to enable me to discharge my duties and obligations until INEC can address the issues, then I can come back to continue the election”.
Before the suspension, twenty-one (21) local government results were collated and the remaining two (2) local governments, Obio Akpor and Degema.
