Election: Abia REC’s life in danger after DSS arrest
Lawrence Nwimo, Awka
The life and safety of Professor Chijioke Uzochukwu is in grave danger following the Police withdrawal of officers attached to him as the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Abia State.
Prof. Uzochukwu, a Professor of Medicinal Chemistry and Supply Chain Expert, is the Abia State REC saddled with the responsibility of overseeing the success of the 2023 polls in the state.
Reports had it that the Abia REC was arrested on the ground that he absconded from official duty during the 2023 general election.
Our correspondent gathered that the REC had only retired to his hotel in the early hours of Sunday, February 26, probably to ease off the stress of the exercise, having exerted energies working the previous days and all through the night, when a team of DSS and Police stormed his hotel room and whisked him to their detention, alongside his personal assistant and two other police orderlies.
The Director of Admin in the state was reportedly mandated by INEC, in a letter, to fill the void left by the arrested REC by taking over the remaining election process and the collation of votes casts in the state.
INEC, in the letter addressed to Prof Uzochukwu, warned him to steer clear of the Abia State INEC office, even without detailing the offenses committed that would deny him access to his office.
It was gathered that the REC was detained in the DSS custody for three days, denying him access to his laptop that contained official files and other vital information, even after his release.
To worsen the situation, Prof Uzochukwu, upon his release, was stripped of his official security aides, leaving him vulnerable to attacks.
Sources close to the REC said since his release, the Abia Sate REC has been on medication, frequenting hospitals for medical check-ups due to the trauma and unhealthy environment he was subjected to.
The source also said all effort the REC made to enquire the offence he committed that would warrant such treatment from the security agencies and the electoral body were futile as no response was given to vagaries of his letters.
