By Julius Osahon, Yenagoa
One week after announcing results of the presidential election in Rivers State, the Collation Officer, Prof. Charles Adias, has cried out over unabated threat to his life.
The don, who is also the vice chancellor of Federal University Otuoke (FUO), had, during collation of results, announced to newsmen in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital of the adjournment of the exercise due to threat to his life and family members.
He alleged that some persons, especially members of the LP, were after his life, despite having nothing to do with conduct of elections and computation of results.
He said those accusing him of rigging election in Rivers State were circulating his picture and personal information on social media and calling on their members to deal with him.
He said those accusing him of rigging election in Rivers State were circulating his picture and personal information on social media and calling on their members to deal with him.
A statement he issued, yesterday, titled, “My Stewardship, My Bond As State Collation Officer For The 2023 Presidential Election, Rivers State,” and made available to newsmen in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital, reads: “On my appointment as State Collation Officer for the 2023 Presidential Elections (SCOPE), Rivers State, I had set out, as a call to duty on national assignment to fulfil an essential part of my community service as an academic and vice chancellor of a Federal University.”
He lamented that after the exercise, he received phone calls and text messages threatening, abusing and insulting him and family.
According to him, he found out that his photograph and phone number had been circulated on the social media, especially Facebook and Twitter, alleging that he had been detailed to influence votes and scores for candidate(s) in the elections by manipulating the BVAS machines in Rivers State, among other allegations.
He said after INEC granted his request by addressing a press conference to absolve him of any wrongdoing, he would have kept quiet but for the fact that the threats continued.
silent about the situation since the Rivers State INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner, Dr. Johnson Alalibo Sinikiem, had, on February 28, 2023, issued a press statement in this regard, but I still feel I owe our country men and women the duty of a thorough explanation of what happened as narrated above, because my image is far more precious to me than anything else.”
“I want to urge us to discountenance all the misinformation and lies that had been peddled about me in relation to the conduct of 2023 Presidential Elections in Rivers State. Let us be assured that my patriotic zeal for the growth and development of our dear country will not be dampened, no matter the seeming discouragement.”
Source: The Guardian
