Adamawa State Governor, Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri, has raised strong concerns over the recently concluded Edo State governorship election.
Governor Fintiri, a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), expressed his frustration over what he described as the “shameful” conduct of the election.
In a series of social media posts, Fintiri accused the All Progressives Congress (APC) of using unethical means to secure victory in Edo.
The governor was particularly critical of the APC’s alleged use of intimidation and vote-buying to influence the outcome of the election.
Fintiri said that the actions of the APC and its leaders during the election were a direct attack on Nigeria’s democracy.
“The real brigandage is APC’s disregard for democratic norms,” Fintiri posted on his official X (formerly Twitter) account.
According to Fintiri, the APC national chairman flew into Edo State on election day using a private jet, despite the movement restrictions that were in place.
He also alleged that APC governors entered the state with armoured escorts, which he claimed were used to intimidate voters.
These actions, Fintiri said, were clear violations of the rules meant to ensure a free and fair election.
In addition, Fintiri accused the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of compromising its neutrality.
The governor claimed that INEC’s actions during the election favoured the APC, which ultimately won the governorship seat.
He highlighted reports of vote-buying and disruptions during the collation of results.
Fintiri also mentioned suspicions of inflated results, where the number of votes counted exceeded the number of accredited voters.
This, he said, was a major issue that must be investigated to restore the people’s trust in democracy.
The Edo State governorship election, which took place on September 21, 2024, saw the APC candidate, Monday Okpebholo, emerge as the winner.
Okpebholo secured 291,667 votes, defeating his closest rival, Asue Ighodalo of the PDP, who received 247,274 votes.
The Labour Party candidate, Olumide Akpata, came in third with 22,761 votes.
Despite the declaration of Okpebholo as the winner, the election has been marred by controversy.
Governor Fintiri’s statement has added fuel to the already heated debate surrounding the integrity of the electoral process.
He clarified that his criticism was not about being a sore loser but about upholding the values of democracy.
Fintiri said that he merely shared election results that had been uploaded on INEC’s Result Viewing Portal (IREV).
These results, he claimed, were collated by INEC from various local government areas across the state.
However, he noted that the results announced by INEC did not match those from the portal, raising further questions.
Fintiri dismissed claims by the APC that he had prematurely announced the results.
He said that his role was only to share the official results that were made available by INEC.
“The APC’s attempts to discredit me by falsely claiming I announced results won’t distract from the real issue,” Fintiri said.
According to him, the real problem is the alleged manipulation of the election and the undermining of democratic processes.
He called on Nigerians to stand up against what he described as the “rape of democracy.”
“The world is watching, and Nigeria deserves better,” Fintiri warned.
He urged citizens to demand accountability from both INEC and the APC for their roles in the election.
Governor Fintiri’s comments have sparked widespread reactions, with many Nigerians expressing similar concerns about the conduct of the Edo election.
Some political analysts argue that Fintiri’s allegations, if true, could significantly damage public trust in INEC and Nigeria’s electoral system.
Vote-buying and voter intimidation have long been issues in Nigerian elections, and these accusations have further complicated an already controversial poll.
Observers, including international groups, have also weighed in on the situation, calling for a thorough investigation into the allegations.
INEC, for its part, has maintained that the Edo governorship election was conducted fairly.
The commission praised the conduct of election officials and security personnel, stating that they acted in accordance with the law.
However, INEC has yet to respond to the specific allegations made by Governor Fintiri and other critics.
The APC has also defended its victory, rejecting claims that it used intimidation or vote-buying to win the election.
APC leaders argue that Okpebholo’s victory is a reflection of the will of the people of Edo State.
They described the allegations as an attempt by the PDP to undermine the outcome of the election.
Asue Ighodalo, the PDP candidate, has not yet commented on the specific claims made by Fintiri.
However, the PDP has filed an official petition calling for INEC to review the election results.
PDP Chairman in Edo State, Dr. Anthony Aziegbemi, had earlier claimed that the results announced by INEC were different from what was uploaded on the IREV portal.
