The All Progressives Congress (APC) has strongly denounced Governor Umaru Fintiri of Adamawa State for unlawfully announcing what he claimed were the results of the Edo State Gubernatorial Election, held on Saturday, September 21, 2024.
The party, in a statement released today, called the act “illegal and irresponsible,” accusing Fintiri of attempting to undermine Nigeria’s electoral process.
The announcement, which was made during a press conference organized by several Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governors, led by Fintiri, has been met with fierce criticism from the APC.
Felix Morka, Esq., National Publicity Secretary of the APC, condemned the action as “executive brigandage” and an affront to both the rule of law and democratic norms.
“Governor Fintiri has no authority to collate or announce the result of any election,” the statement read. “This unprecedented illegality is calculated to cause unrest in Edo State, disrupt the peaceful conclusion of the election process, and undermine the lawful authority of INEC.”
The APC further accused Governor Fintiri of seeking to usurp the statutory powers of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the only body legally permitted to announce election results.
According to Morka, Fintiri’s actions represent a clear violation of the Electoral Act, 2022, and the Nigerian Constitution.
The statement also referenced the actions of Edo State Governor Godwin Obaseki, who allegedly attempted to invade INEC’s premises in Benin City overnight, only to be forced to withdraw following protests from APC leaders.
APC urged law enforcement agencies to remain vigilant in Edo State and ensure that peace is maintained, while calling on the public to disregard the “bogus” election results announced by Governor Fintiri.
The party concluded by expressing disappointment that a sitting governor, who himself is a product of the electoral process, would disregard the laws that brought him to power in such a reckless and partisan manner.
As the official results from INEC are awaited, the APC called for calm and patience, emphasizing that the electoral process must be respected for democracy to thrive.
