Adamawa State Governor, Ahmadu Fintiri, has openly condemned the results of the Edo State governorship election. His statement has sparked discussions across the country, as he expressed deep disappointment over the conduct of the election.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared Monday Okpebholo, the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), as the winner of the September 21 election. However, Governor Fintiri was quick to express his dismay, claiming that the election process did not reflect the democratic values Nigeria stands for.
In his statement released on September 22, Governor Fintiri stated, “I weep for Nigeria’s democracy.” He described the entire election process as shameful and disheartening, raising concerns about the integrity of the democratic system in the country.
Fintiri said,
“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,”
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.
This blatant disregard for democratic norms is the real brigandage. Nigerians are outraged, slamming INEC for compromising and favoring APC. The reported vote-buying, disruption of collation processes, and suspicious results with more votes than accredited voters undermine trust in our democracy. Democracy indeed is under attack.
We must condemn this rape of democracy and demand accountability. The world is watching, and Nigeria deserves better.”
This latest election controversy has once again brought the issue of electoral credibility in Nigeria to the forefront, with many questioning the fairness of the electoral process.
Nigeria’s democracy has faced various challenges over the years, and election credibility is crucial to sustaining trust in the political system. Governor Fintiri’s reaction reflects a larger sentiment among citizens who desire a more transparent and fair election process. The outcome of this election and the reactions surrounding it may have lasting impacts on the country’s political landscape.
