The All Progressives Congress (APC) has strongly condemned the announcement of Edo State gubernatorial election results by Adamawa State Governor, Umaru Fintiri.
“We condemn, in the strongest possible terms, this act of executive brigandage and contempt for the rule of law and democratic norms,” said Felix Morka, APC National Publicity Secretary.
Fintiri, at a press conference, announced what he described as “results of the Edo State Gubernatorial Election” held on Sept 21.
Governor Fintiri’s action was described as “unprecedented illegality” aimed at causing unrest in Edo State and undermining INEC’s authority.
“The power and duty to conduct, collate and announce the result of the election is exclusively vested in the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) by law,” Morka stated.
The APC accused Fintiri of violating the Electoral Act, 2022 and the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“By seeking to usurp the statutory power of INEC, Governor Fintiri engaged in unmistakable and egregious violation of the Electoral Act, 2022 and the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” Morka said.
The party dismissed Fintiri’s announced results as “bogus, fake and contrived by devious imagination.”
“To be clear, the purported election results announced by Fintiri is bogus, fake and contrived by devious imagination,” Morka emphasized.
The APC urged law enforcement agencies to maintain peace and security in Edo State and advised the public to disregard Fintiri’s announcement.
“We urge members of the Edo electorate and the general public to disregard Fintiri’s unlawful and unauthorized announcement of election results,” Morka concluded.
The development comes after Governor Godwin Obaseki’s overnight invasion of INEC’s premises in Benin City, which was eventually withdrawn following protests by APC leaders.
