By Seun Opejobi

The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Returning Officer for Abia State governorship election, Professor Nnenna Oti has recalled how she insisted that votes must count during the just-concluded election.

Oti, who is the Vice Chancellor of the Federal University of Technology, Owerri, FUTO, said she refused to compromise the Abia governorship election despite being offered money and threatened.

The Vice Chancellor disclosed this while addressing students during her return to the school on Tuesday.

Students and staff of the institution had given their Vice Chancellor a hero’s welcome.

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 my 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.”

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.