Collation officer’s husband alleges threat to wife’s life for refusing result falsification

Dr Amoniia Lulu-Briggs, husband of the Port Harcourt City Local Government Area Collation Officer for the February 25 presidential election, has raised the alarm over continued threats to the life of his wife.

Briggs said his wife, Prof Omiete Briggs, had been receiving several threatening calls and messages after the election from unknown persons for standing by the truth.

Briggs disclosed this while speaking to newsmen at the Nigeria Union of Journalists’ secretariat in Port Harcourt on Monday.

Recall that a group of men had besieged the headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission along Aba Road, Port Harcourt, during the collation of results on February 27th, accusing Prof Briggs of manipulating and running away with the PHALGA election results.

Our correspondent who observed the situation reports that the collation Officer was escorted into the INEC premises by armed security operatives who shielded her from being attacked.

Speaking further, Dr Briggs said there had been strange human and vehicular movements around their residence, adding that the threats had spiralled to the university campus where his wife teaches.

He stated, “There has been a viral video, where it emanated from we don’t know but we feel that it was something done within the confines of INEC.

“During the elections, she was under so much pressure to act otherwise. However, because of her belief and her faith, she stood by the results and declared what the people voted for.

“Now, in as much as we thank Nigerians for calling and commending her, on the flip side, there have been so many threats and unknown numbers calling, threatening her left, right and centre.

“She came to serve her country. The purpose of this briefing is to let the security agencies, especially the Inspector General of Police and INEC know what is happening.

“This is a non-politician that was called upon to serve her nation. In serving her nation, what we are seeing now is that there are threats to her life.

“The situation was so unbearable. In the last two days, we have seen unusual movements around our house.

“Last night, our dogs were like crazy. This morning, we saw tinted vehicles moving to and fro. So, I had to move her to a safe abode.

Continuing, he said, “More disturbing again is even in the university community. We have to call on the university community to protect her because the fillers we have, fellow persons that did not do what she did are now like she is proving to be a righteous person.

“How else can we save this country if we don’t stand by the truth? I came to let Nigerians, the security agencies, and INEC itself know otherwise it will discourage others from rendering such services to the nation.”

While noting that citizens want the country to move forward to secure a better place for our children, he said, “How do we do it when we start compromising our conscience?

“She has stood by the truth. I am very proud of my wife and I think she has done what she is supposed to do.

“If anything happens to my wife, I want the IGP and INEC to know that it was as a result of what came out from this election,” Prof Briggs’ husband said with rage.

(Punch)