By Abimbola Ogunnaike
The Independent National Electoral Commission(INEC), Returning Officer for Abia State Governorship Election, Professor Nnenna Oti, has opened up on how she was offered money to manipulate the mandate of the electorate in favour of another candidate during the just-concluded election in the state.
Oti, who is the Vice Chancellor of the Federal University of Technology, Owerri, FUTO, made this disclosure while addressing students during her return to the school on Wednesday, 29 March, 2023.
Students and staff of the institution had given their Vice Chancellor a hero’s welcome on return to the institution.
In a viral video, Oti said: “As an electoral officer, I have never in my life participated in any election but duty came calling. I made enquires from Abuja and I said ‘If I perish, I perish’…
“They (names withheld) came with their threats, money, and intimidation but I stood my ground. I didn’t start today. I stand here before God and Jesus Christ, I have never defrauded anyone. I said under me, votes must count,” FUTO VC said.
The Labour Party(LP), governorship candidate in Abia State, Alex Otti defeated his opponents: Okey Ahiwe of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Enyinnaya Nwafor of the Young Peoples Party (YPP) with 175, 467 votes to emerge the winner.
