Ahmadu Fintiri, governor of Adamawa state, says Nigeria’s democracy skilled one more assault in Edo over the weekend.
On September 22, the Unbiased Nationwide Electoral Fee (INEC) declared Monday Okpebholo of the All Progressives Congress (APC) winner of the Edo governorship election.
Okpebholo, a serving senator, gained the election with 291,667 votes to defeat his closest rival, Asue Ighodalo of the Peoples Democratic Celebration (PDP), who polled 247,274 votes.
Olumide Akpata, the candidate of the Labour Celebration (LP), got here a distant third with 22, 763 votes.
Fintiri, who was the chairman of the PDP marketing campaign council for the election, stated the ballot was marred by “vote-buying, disruption of collation processes, and suspicious outcomes”.
“I weep for Nigeria’s democracy after witnessing the shameful Edo Gubernatorial ballot,” Fintiri posted on X.
Earlier than the ultimate outcomes had been introduced, Fintiri held a press convention alongside Godwin Obaseki, governor of Edo; and Asue Ighodalo, candidate of the PDP within the election.
On the briefing, the Adamawa governor reeled out collated outcomes of some Edo LGAs, and was instantly criticised by politicians on the opposite facet of the divide for “usurping the powers” of the electoral umpire.
“The APC’s determined makes an attempt to discredit me by falsely claiming I introduced outcomes gained’t distract from the actual problem. I merely shared outcomes from INEC’s Irev portal, as collated by INEC from the assorted Native Authorities Areas,” Fintiri added.
“What’s actually shameful is APC’s nationwide chairman flying into Edo with a non-public jet on election day, defying motion restrictions, whereas their Governors used armoured escorts to intimidate voters.
“This blatant disregard for democratic norms is the actual brigandage.
“Nigerians are outraged, slamming INEC for compromising and favouring APC. The reported vote-buying, disruption of collation processes, and suspicious outcomes with extra votes than accredited voters undermine belief in our democracy.
“Democracy certainly is underneath assault. We should condemn this rape of democracy and demand accountability. The world is watching, and Nigeria deserves higher.”
Fintiri had additionally alleged that brokers of the PDP had been denied entry to the collation centre.
