Abia Guber: INEC Returning Officer Reveals How She Was Threatened To Manipulate Results

Professor Nnenna Otti, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Returning Officer in the Abia State governorship election, has recounted how she was threatened and pressured to manipulate the poll results.

Otti, the Vice Chancellor of the Federal University of Technology Owerri, made the disclosure on Tuesday while being welcomed by the management, staff and students of the institution.

Labour Party's Alex Otti was declared the governor-elect last Wednesday in a process that was initially marred by controversy as the collation of the result for Obingwa Local Government Area (LGA) was briefly suspended by INEC.

Speaking on her experience at the poll, Nnenna Otti disclosed that before the final declaration of the result, she was promised huge monetary inducement to alter the figures.

She said that she resisted and remained determined amid heavy intimidation and threats.

“As an electoral officer, I have never in my life participated in any election, but duty came calling, I made my enquiries from Abuja.

“If I perish, I perish, they came with their threats, they came with their money, they came with their intimidation”, she shared.

Speaking further, Professor Otti stated that stood on her ideals and principles not to short-change anyone, ensuring that the will of the people prevailed.

“I didn’t start today; I stand here before God, Jesus Christ.

“I have never defrauded anyone, all l I did was to declare the riot act as follows: under me, votes must count.

“Under me, the people’s mandate will be upheld because I, Professor Nnnena Otti, can never do evil,” she added.