Some lecturers from the University of Port Harcourt, who are among those listed as ad hoc staff of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in the state and National Assembly rerun in Rivers state, have decided to opt out of the exercise over an alleged threat by Governor Nyesom Wike.
Punch reports that Governor Wike had alleged that some lecturers had connived with the All Progressives Congress (APC) to rig the forthcoming poll scheduled for March 19. He threatened that such lecturers will face the wrath of Rivers people.
The threat credited to WIke has given most of the lecturers cold feet as some of them told the Vice-Chancellor of the university, Prof. Ndowa Lale, on Monday, March 7, that they intend to stay away from the exercise due to the stance of the governor.
Dr. Otu Ekpeyong, one of the lecturers who featured prominently in Wike’s allegation is accused of colluding with the APC to draw up a list of returning officers from UNIPORT with the aim of rigging the polls.
But Ekpeyong denied the allegations saying he had witnessed many elections in the past and wondered why the governor should suspect that he was planning to rig the March 19 rerun elections.
He said: “The vice-chancellor gave me a job, which I did to the best of my ability. This (INEC ad hoc employee) is an assignment I have done for over seven years and my integrity has never been in doubt.
“Personally, I am making a decision of not going anywhere (not to be part of the election), he added.
Likewise Dr. Abdulrahman Megida, and Dr. Ben Ihewosira have also decided to opt out of the exercise following the charged political atmosphere in the state.
