Port Harcourt, Feb. 28, 2023 – Prof Charles Adias, the INEC Collation Officer for the Presidential Election in Rivers State, has suspended the exercise in the state for safety of his life.
Adias, the Vice Chancellor of the Federal University, Otueke, said his phone had been inundated with death threats due to crises at polling units, particularly due to malfunctioning of BVAS machines.
The collation officer insisted on suspending the exercise in spite of assurances by Aderemi Adeoye, the Commissioner of Police in charge of Presidential Election in Rivers State, guaranteeing his safety.
Adeoye had even requested Adias to submit his complaints in writing to the State Commissioner of Police.
But Adias was adamant, saying: “I want to reemphasise that I still want to adjourn collations.
“Collations will be adjourned like I said because of the assault I have received for the past three days.
“They have failed to recognise the difference between SCOPE and the REC of Rivers State.
“Whenever there are crisis in polling units, the attack is on my phone as if I am responsible; when BVAS fails to function, the attack is on my phone, I am responsible.
“I believe that when INEC, represented by the REC, is able to address this misinformation, we can reconsider and reconvene,” he said. (GBN)
