Our Reporter, Abuja
The Rivers State INEC collation Officer for the Presidential election, which held over the weekend, Professor Charles Adias, has adjourned further collation of the results from the local governments in the state over alleged threats to his life and those of his family members.
Professor Adias is also the Vice Chancellor of the Federal University, Otuoke in Bayelsa State.
Professor Adias said at the resumption of collation at the INEC headquarters in Port Harcourt on Tuesday morning that threats were coming from supporters of a particular political party.
“I have been receiving threats, messages and calls to my life and that of my family for two days now. My picture is all over the social media that I was sent to rig the elections in Rivers State.
“Every one hour, I receive more that one million calls of threats to my life and other things. I hereby stand down collation until the INEC and security agencies can guarantee my safety to continue this national assignment,”Adias said.
Even after the Rivers State Commissioner for Police, CP Aderemi Adeoye assured Professor Adias of police protection during and even after the election and pleaded with him to continue the exercise in the interest of the Nation, the INEC collation officer remained adamant.
Professor Adias, however, said he would only resume collation of the presidential results if INEC headquarters intervene in the matter.
Before the adjournment only results from two local government areas, Obio-Akpor and Degema were yet to be collated. The two local governments are those of the Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike and his deputy respectively.
