Fintiri Laments ‘Rape of Democracy’ After Controversial Edo Polls
By Matthew Eloyi
Governor Ahmadu Umar Fintiri of Adamawa State has expressed deep concern over the state of Nigeria’s democracy following the recently concluded Edo State gubernatorial election.
In a post shared on his verified X account on Sunday, Fintiri condemned the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) for what he described as “desperate attempts” to discredit him after he shared election results from the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) IReV portal.
Fintiri, who denied claims that he falsely announced election results, clarified that the figures he shared were official results collated by INEC from various local government areas.
The governor’s outrage extended to allegations of misconduct by top APC officials, including the party’s national chairman, who, according to Fintiri, flew into Edo on a private jet on election day, despite movement restrictions.
He further accused APC governors of using armoured escorts to intimidate voters.
“This blatant disregard for democratic norms is the real brigandage,” Fintiri declared, while also criticizing INEC for allegedly compromising the election in favour of the APC.
He raised concerns over reports of vote-buying, disruption of collation processes, and instances where the number of votes exceeded the accredited voters.
“Nigerians are outraged,” he said, adding that the integrity of the electoral process is under attack and calling for accountability from those responsible.
“We must condemn this rape of democracy and demand accountability. The world is watching, and Nigeria deserves better,” he concluded.
Fintiri’s remarks have sparked widespread reactions as Nigerians continue to question the transparency of the Edo election and the future of democracy in the country.
