By PAMELA EBOH, Awka 

The Returning Officer of Orumba North Local Government Area of Anambra State, Dr Michael Otu, on Sunday, recounted how he almost lost his life following the attack of the collation center by thugs during the governorship election held on Saturday.

Narrating his ordeal at the State Collation Centre in INEC office, Awka, he said that he was teargassed when trouble statted.

According to him, the scoresheets were snatched from him and mutilated adding that he was made to sign a fake result under duress.

He said: “I am lucky to be alive. I was teargassed and as a BP patient, I nearly lost my life. I was forced to sign a result sheet which wasn’t collated by me. The Polling Officer, Comfort Omoroge, who worked with me, compromised.”

On her part, Omoroge said that Otu was confused and didn’t know the difference between casting of vote and collation of results.

“This man (Onu) has not been involved in an election and it is obvious from the way he behaved on the election day. His actions put us at risk."

The state collation and returning officer, Prof. Florence Obi, the Vice Chancellor of University of Calabar asked Dr Otu to submit his report on the matter, saying tha the result of the council was declared inconclusive.