Nnenna Oti: FUTO Students Welcome Fearless INEC Returning Officer for Abia Guber Polls

• After a rollercoaster adventure as an electoral umpire, Professor Nnenna Oti has returned to her base in Owerri
• The courageous INEC returning officer made history when she refused to succumb to intimidation from the incumbent party over the declaration of the result
• She received a hero's welcome at the Federal University of Technology, Owerri (FUTO), where she is the Vice-Chancellor

Imo, Owerri - Students of the Federal University of Technology, Owerri (FUTO) trooped out in their numbers to welcome the return of Professor Nnenna Oti, the institution's Vice-Chancellor who stood as an electoral umpire for the 2023 gubernatorial polls in Abia state.

Professor Oti was the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)'s returning officer for the controversial and tense Abia gubernatorial polls.

She declared the election inconclusive after much pressure from the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, who had already lost 16 of the 17 local governments in the state to the Labour Party.

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INEC under pressure to annul guber election polls in APC-controlled state

After much pressure and intimidation, Prof Oti moved to the INEC headquarters in Abuja, the nation's capital, to announce the Abia state governorship election winner.

The VC declared the Labour Party's candidate, Alex Oti, winner of the Abia gubernatorial election after polling 175,467 votes ahead of PDP's Okey Ahiwe, who polled 88,529 votes.

In the viral video sighted by Legit.ng on Wednesday, March 29, hundreds of FUTO students trooped out playing the drums, singing and wielding banners with inscriptions portraying her boldness and courage during the elections.

One of the students said:

"We are welcoming our able vice chancellor back from INEC work. The only outstanding vice-chancellor. You're welcome Ma."

Prof Oti addresses students, recounts ordeals as INEC electoral umpire

In another viral video that surfaced on social media, Professor Oti was seen addressing students about her ordeals while serving the nation as an electoral umpire.

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2023 guber polls: Streams of women go unclad to protest election result in APC-controlled state

She said:

"They came with their threats. They came with their money. They came with their intimidation, but I resisted all."

Businessman makes 'humble' financial offer to Abia INEC REC after man promised her Jeep

In another development, Prof Nnenna Nnannaya-Oti has once again earned herself more rewards for a show of courage during the Abia state guber polls.

A businessman man promised her a Prado SUV, while another fellow offered the academic a 'little token' for her courage.

The INEC Returning Officer declared Labour Party's Alex Otti, the March 18 governorship election winner against all odds.

Alex Otti: 5 interesting facts about ex-bank CEO who ended PDP’s 24-year reign in Abia

Meanwhile, INEC, on Wednesday, March 22, declares LP's Alex Otti winner of the Abia 2023 governorship election after the final collation of results.

Professor Nnenna Oti, Returning Officer of the election, disclosed Otti scored 175,467 votes to beat his primary challenger, Chief Okey Ahiwe of the PDP, who won 88,529 votes.

However, this is the first state Labour Party would win in the 2023 governorship election held across 28 states.

Source: Legit.ng