Following the conclusion of the Edo State governorship election, Adamawa State Governor, Umaru Fintiri, has expressed deep disappointment over the conduct of the election, accusing the All Progressives Congress (APC) of electoral manipulation and undermining Nigeria’s democracy.
In a statement posted on his X (formerly Twitter) account after the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared the APC candidate, Monday Okpebholo, the winner of the Edo governorship election, Fintiri condemned the declaration as “shameful”. He dismissed allegations that he had announced results during the election, stating that he only shared figures from INEC’s IREV portal that had already been collated.
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“I weep for Nigeria’s democracy after witnessing the shameful Edo Gubernatorial poll,” Fintiri wrote. “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.”
Fintiri also accused APC of employing underhanded tactics to intimidate voters and influence the election’s outcome, alleging that the APC’s national chairman violated movement restrictions on election day by flying into Edo State on a private jet. He further claimed that APC governors used armored escorts to intimidate voters, creating an atmosphere of fear and tension.
This blatant disregard for democratic norms is the real brigandage,” Fintiri added. “Nigerians are outraged, slamming INEC for compromising and favouring APC. The reported vote-buying, disruption of collation processes, and suspicious results with more votes than accredited voters undermine trust in our democracy.”
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The Adamawa governor warned that democracy in Nigeria was “under attack” and called for widespread condemnation of what he described as a “rape of democracy.” He urged Nigerians to demand accountability for the alleged electoral misconduct and vote manipulation, stating that the international community was closely monitoring the situation.
“We must condemn this rape of democracy and demand accountability. The world is watching, and Nigeria deserves better,” Fintiri said in his expose of the Edo election.
GWG.ng reports that the lamentations by Fintiri follows claims that the Edo State governorship election was marred by claims of irregularities, with various stakeholders questioning the transparency and integrity of the process. Despite these concerns, INEC has maintained that the election was conducted fairly and in accordance with the law. However, calls for a review and potential legal challenges continue to surface.
