I chewed election papers in fear of soldiers, says Rivers collation officer -

Dr Felix Nte, a collation officer of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has revealed that he had to chew some of the papers used for the elections in fear following gunshots by security men during the general elections in Rivers State.

Nte, who served in Oyigbo Local Government Area of the state during the polls, spoke on Wednesday to the commission of inquiry investigating the violence and killings that marred the February 23 and March 9 elections in the state.

He was invited to testify as a witness on the alleged ‘militarisation’ of the electoral process in the state.

In his testimony, he said, “I arrived at INEC office in Oyigbo LGA at about 12pm and collected materials. I was later ushered into the collation centre and shown my table. From that moment, it appeared I was caged by the military.

“Before the announcement of the results, the pressure became much and we managed to smuggle our way out because of the indiscriminate shootings. 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?’

“It was one Chisom, who saw my helpless situation and took me to a hotel in the area. The noise I heard seemed like that of the military. But I did not see them. When I recovered from the shock, I did not see the bags I was carrying again.”