The Governor of Adamawa State, Ahmadu Fintiri, has expressed strong disapproval of the recently concluded Edo State governorship election, describing it as a threat to Nigeria’s democracy.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Sunday declared Monday Okpebholo of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the winner of the September 21 governorship election. However, in a statement released the same day, Governor Fintiri criticised the electoral process, calling it “shameful” and an attack on democratic values.
Fintiri particularly condemned the conduct of APC’s national chairman, Abdullahi Ganduje, accusing him of arriving in Edo State on election day via a private jet, in violation of movement restrictions imposed by the Nigeria Police. He labelled this action as a blatant disregard for electoral rules and democratic norms.
The governor further decried widespread reports of vote-buying, the disruption of the collation process, and what he termed “suspicious results,” where the number of votes exceeded the accredited voter count. He emphasised that these irregularities have eroded public confidence in Nigeria’s democracy.
“I weep for Nigeria’s democracy after witnessing the shameful Edo Gubernatorial poll,” Fintiri stated. He dismissed APC’s attempts to discredit him, asserting that the real issue was the conduct of the election itself. He claimed to have shared accurate results from INEC’s IREV portal, reflecting votes from the various local government areas.
Fintiri accused APC of using intimidation tactics, including the deployment of armoured escorts, to influence voters, calling on Nigerians to demand accountability for what he described as “the rape of democracy.”
“The world is watching, and Nigeria deserves better,” Fintiri concluded.
