Prof Charles Adias, the state collation officer for the presidential election in Rivers State in last Saturday’s polls has adjourned the collation of results over an alleged threat to his life.
Adias, who is also the Vice Chancellor of the Federal University Otuoke in Bayelsa State, made the allegation in Port Harcourt while addressing an agent of the Labour Party (LP), Deinye Pepple.
While making observations earlier, Pepple had faulted some results from particular polling units but commended the collation officer of the Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area (LGA) of the State.
Responding, the official of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) said some Labour Party members have accused him of rigging some areas, adding that he had received numerous phone calls from persons identified as the party’s supporters.
Adias said: “For the past two days, I have been receiving threats from members of your party.
“Even as I am seated here, for every minute, I have received at least 10 calls from members of your party.
”My telephone number and my face has been posted on all your platforms to the extent that I am here to rig the elections against their party.
“I believe I should address you so that you can tell your members that what we do here is transparency. We do not have any regard for what has happened before here.”
According to him, his duty as the collation officer for the presidential election in the state is to receive results from LGAs and collate them as presented.
He further warned parties to go to the polling unit if they have issues about results and votes, and not come to the collation center in a bid to transfer aggressions to other members of the society.
Adias insisted that he won’t proceed until the Resident Electoral Commissioner in the state addressed some of the issues those threatening him raised include that of faulty Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS).