Adamawa State Governor, Ahmadu Fintiri, has voiced strong criticism over the conduct of the Edo State governorship election, raising alarm about the future of Nigeria’s democracy. Following the declaration of the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Monday Okpebholo, as the winner of the September 21 election, Fintiri expressed his deep dismay, calling the election process shameful.
In his remarks, Governor Fintiri pointed to several irregularities that marred the election, which he believes undermined the credibility of Nigeria’s democratic process. Among his chief concerns were reports of vote-buying, disruptions in the collation process, and results showing more votes than accredited voters.
Fintiri did not mince words in his criticism of the APC, particularly targeting its national chairman, Abdullahi Ganduje. He condemned Ganduje for arriving in Edo State on election day using a private jet, defying movement restrictions in place for the election. This, according to Fintiri, demonstrated a blatant disregard for democratic norms.
What’s truly shameful is APC’s national chairman flying into Edo with a private jet on election day, defying movement restrictions, while their governors used armoured escorts to intimidate voters, Fintiri remarked.
The Adamawa governor further slammed the APC for attempting to distract from the real issues by falsely accusing him of announcing election results. He insisted that this was a diversionary tactic aimed at shifting attention away from the glaring irregularities of the election.
Fintiri also directed his criticism towards the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), accusing the electoral body of compromising its neutrality and favoring the APC. He emphasized that Nigerians are outraged by what they perceive as INEC's failure to safeguard the integrity of the election, and he called for a full investigation into the discrepancies.
We must condemn this rape of democracy and demand accountability. The world is watching, and Nigeria deserves better, he stated.
Fintiri’s condemnation of the Edo election is a stark reminder of the growing concern among many Nigerians about the state of the country’s democracy. His call for accountability and transparency reflects widespread frustration with electoral processes that are often fraught with allegations of manipulation and violence.
While Monday Okpebholo has been declared the winner, Fintiri's insistence on reviewing the results from INEC’s Irev portal, where he claims irregularities were recorded in several local government areas, highlights his commitment to holding the process accountable.
For Governor Fintiri, the events in Edo represent a larger threat to Nigeria’s democratic future. His statement is a rallying cry for reform, transparency, and the protection of democratic principles as the country prepares for future elections.