'They're threatening to kill me' - INEC Commissioner cries out

dimeji akinloye

April 24, 2015 10:52 PM

The Resident Electoral Commissioner in Abia state, Professor Selina Oko, said she has been receiving death threats through text messages since the April 11 governorship poll in the state.

The Resident Electoral Commissioner in Abia state, Professor Selina Oko, decried that she has been receiving death threats since the April 11 gubernatorial election held in the state, which was ruled inconclusive.

Speaking to Punch in an interview, Oko said she has reported the threats to the security agencies in the state.

"Yes, I have been getting calls threatening my life. I have been getting text messages about how they will shoot me through the window of my car,” the commissioner told the newspaper.

Oko had been alleged to be working in favour of Alex Otti, the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) governorship candidate in the state, and the allegation also includes that she an aunt to the aspirant.

Reacting to the allegations, the Professor dismissed the claims, noting she didn’t know Otti until she got to Abia.

“I did not know Otti until I came to Abia. I think Otti is from Abia. I am from Afikpo in Ebonyi State. He should go to Afikpo and trace my linage and see whether there is any link at all between me and Otti. I have never known Otti until this time. They are cooking up stories just to whip up sentiments. Besides if I am Otti’s aunt why should I then collect N300 million from him? One of such people whose allegation I read in black and white is the so-called National Publicity Secretary of PDP, Olisa Metuh. He said I am related to Otti. How can somebody at his level get information and not bother to verify it? All he did was to rush to the media and put it in black and white. There is something wrong with him. He is not fit to be a leader" Oko said.

However, the Independent Electoral Commission has deployed six commissioners to the stateto oversee the governorship election re-run scheduled for Saturday, April 25, 2015.

dimeji akinloye