‘I Was Abducted, Forcefully Detained By DSS’ – Abia REC Narrates His Odeal

Professor Ike Uzochukwu, Resident Electoral Commissioner REC, has narrated how he was abducted and placed under forceful detention and false imprisonment by the Abia State Department of State Services (DSS) and Police.

This Online News Media gathered that Uzochukwu was declared missing on Sunday 26, 2023, hours after the presidential and national assembly elections.

His disappearance became worrisome after efforts to reach him by the ad-hoc of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Journalists and stakeholders for the collation of results at the collation centre in Umuahia was fruitless.

However, in a report made available on Tuesday March 8, Uzochukwu narrated that his disappearance was due to the forceful detention by the DSS for an offence yet to be disclosed to him.

The REC who also revealed that his security details were withdrawn and his Police orderly detained, cried out that his life “is now in grave danger.”

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He said: “The duty post of the REC was the incident room. I was there throughout Saturday, 25th February 2023 and up until around 2 am on Sunday, 26th February 2023.

“On Sunday, 26th February 2023, before the elections ended, at about 13:00pm, I was abducted and placed under forceful detention and false imprisonment by the Abia State Department of State Services (DSS) and Police.

“I was forced out of my hotel room while he was preparing to return back to the INEC State Office (having worked throughout Saturday, 25th February 2023 till about 5am of Sunday, 26th February 2023) by the officials of Abia State Department of State Services and Abia State Police.

“I was kept in their respective custody without warrant of arrest, with my Personal Assistant (PA).

“The DSS and Police details attached to me were also withdrawn from me and the Police details were detained.

” Having been released on bail by the Abia State Police on Tuesday, 28th February 2023 at about 5pm, I quickly sent an email to the Chairman of the Commission (INEC) expressing surprise at the DSS and Police actions against me.

” I am yet to be informed of my offence. I have been deprived of vital information contained in my personal laptop, official files and other personal items, all still being held by the Abia State
police.

“I had to leave for the hospital on Thursday, 2nd March 2023 for a check-up due to the trauma and unhealthy environment I was subjected to both at the Abia State DSS and Police.

“My life is in grave danger as I now move without any security detail.”

Uzochukwu doubted the credibility and transparency of the announced result after his dentention and called for review of results in consonance with section 65 of the Electoral Act 2022.

He also accused the Administrative Secretary Clement Oha for usurping the power of his office and declared results in his absence.

“Since my abduction and hence absence, election results announced in some zones may not have met the minimum requirements as stipulated by the Electoral Act, 2022.

“Some declared winner(s) may not be the genuine winner(s) in some of those elections.

” I hereby request for the review of the results in consonance with section 65 of the Electoral Act 2022, which empowers the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to review the result(s) declared by the Returning Officer (RO) within one week after, if the declaration declared by a Returning Officer is contrary to the provisions of the law, regulations and guidelines, and manual for the elections.

“The collations and returning of winners were done in my absence (Resident Electoral Commissioner) while the Administrative Secretary usurped and assumed my position.

The DSS Director in charge of Abia State, Friday Onuche, when contacted said the allegation was false and that nothing of such happened.

His words:” Nothing like that happened. Will any abducted person have time to write all those rubbish? What kind of abduction is that?

” It’s unfounded. Do we abduct? Are we kidnappers? For what? Which political party do we belong to? Do you think we will do such a thing?

“All the security agencies have their role cut out for them in terms of election security. We protect personnel of INEC and materials. Why should we now abduct the people we are to protect? I’m not sure that’s what he meant”.

Meanwhile, the police Public Relations Officer, PPRO in charge of Abia, Geoffrey Ogbonna, said said they would investigate on the matter