Governor Ahmadu Fintiri of Adamawa State has strongly criticized the outcome of the Edo State governorship election, held on September 21.
In a statement issued on Sunday, Fintiri described the election process as a “shameful” act that threatens the foundation of Nigeria’s democracy.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had declared the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Monday Okpebholo, the winner of the election.
However, Fintiri expressed deep disappointment over the conduct of the poll and the actions of the APC.
“I weep for Nigeria’s democracy after witnessing the shameful Edo Gubernatorial poll. The APC’s desperate attempts to discredit me by falsely claiming I announced results won’t distract from the real issue. I merely shared results from INEC’s Irev portal, as collated by INEC from the various Local Government Areas,” he said.
Fintiri further accused the APC of electoral misconduct, pointing to the arrival of the party’s national chairman in Edo State on election day via private jet, in defiance of movement restrictions, and the use of armoured escorts by APC governors to intimidate voters.
According to him, “This blatant disregard for democratic norms is the real brigandage.”
He said that reports of vote-buying, disruptions during collation, and results that exceeded the number of accredited voters, adding that Nigerians are outraged and slammed INEC for compromising and favoring APC.
He called for public condemnation of the election, stating that democracy in Nigeria is under serious threat and that the global community is observing the situation closely.
“We must condemn this rape of democracy and demand accountability. The world is watching, and Nigeria deserves better,” Fintiri concluded.
