By Zakariyya Aliyu Gwaram
Governor of Adamawa State, Rt. Hon. Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri, has expressed deep concern over what he described as a “shameful” conduct of the recent Edo State gubernatorial election, questioning the integrity of Nigeria’s democratic process.
In a statement, Fintiri dismissed allegations from the All Progressives Congress (APC) that he had announced election results, clarifying that he merely shared data from the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) Irev portal.
He emphasized that these were official results collated by INEC from various Local Government Areas in Edo.
The governor condemned the actions of the APC, singling out the party’s national chairman for arriving in Edo on election day via private jet, despite movement restrictions.
He further criticized the presence of APC Governors who, he claimed, used armored vehicles and escorts to intimidate voters, a tactic Fintiri described as a blatant violation of democratic norms.
“This is the real brigandage,” Fintiri said, noting the widespread voter intimidation, alleged vote-buying, and disruptions in the collation process. He also expressed dismay over reports that votes in some areas exceeded the number of accredited voters, which he argued undermines the credibility of the election.
Fintiri joined other Nigerians in calling out INEC for what many see as a compromised process that favored the APC, stressing that democracy is “under attack” in Nigeria. He called for accountability, urging Nigerians and the international community to condemn the alleged electoral misconduct.
“The world is watching, and Nigeria deserves better,” Fintiri concluded.
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