A Rivers collation officer who testified before an enquiry commission today, revealed that he ate INEC papers out of fear following unabating gunshots by security operatives.
Dr. Felix Nte who confirmed the violence and killings that characterized the February 23 and March 9, 2019 general elections in Rivers State, served in Oyigbo Local Government Area of Rivers State during the exercise.
The Rivers INEC Collation officer who revealed that he ate INEC papers in panic, further revealed that he ran out of the collation centre in the council area where he served. Nte who testified as a witness on the alleged militarization of the electoral process, added that while he was stranded, he was assisted by a stalwart of the Peoples Democratic Party to find safety in a nearby hotel with the sensitive materials for the polls.
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He said, “I arrived INEC office in Oyibo LGA at about 12.00pm and collected materials. I was later checked into the collation centre and shown my table. From that moment, it appeared I was caged by the military.
Before the announcement of the result, the pressure became much and we managed to smuggle our way out because of the cascade of gunshots. Before I realised what was happening, I was chewing INEC papers.
I was about to eat my SIM card before someone tapped me and shouted, ‘Do you want to kill yourself?’
