“We won, Adamawa won, democracy won”!
These were the words of Adamawa State Governor, Ahmadu Fintiri following his declaration as the winner of the governorship poll by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The governor, who promised not to take people’s support for granted, said he will serve the state at all times.
There was wild jubilation in Yola, the state capital, following the announcement of the results by the Returning Officer, Prof. Mohammed Mele.
Fintiri of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who scored 430,861 votes, defeated his main rival, Senator Aishatu Dahiru Ahmed (well known as Binani) of the All Progressives Congress (APC), who got 398,788 votes.
Supporters stormed the Government House to rejoice with the governor, who dedicated his victory to the people.
Fintiri, who later spoke on Channels Television‘s Politics Today, threatened to prosecute the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Barrister Hudu Yunusa-Ari for falsely declaring Binani as the winner.
He said: “I am satisfied and I feel happy that God has spoken through the Adamawa people and Adamawa has won.
“I don’t think I have run against any woman in Adamawa State. I ran against enemies of democracy outside Adamawa State. For now, we give God the glory”.
The governor said he won the election based on his performance, promising to surpass his achievement during his second term.
Fintiri, who applauded INEC for correcting the shenanigans that took place last Sunday, however, threatened to prosecute all culprits.
He added: “I think everybody has learnt his lessons and the electoral umpire has corrected their wrongs to protect the institution.
“The police that was supposed to protect democracy were also caught up in the whole saga. It is unfortunate and a disgrace.
“I think everybody is trying to correct their wrongs and time will tell if these people will be properly prosecuted. But if they are not prosecuted with the height of criminality that took place in Adamawa State, I am going to prosecute them.
“I did not contest against a woman or the APC, I contested against the whole system.
‘I contested against those who feel they can control Adamawa from Abuja. God is more than them. You can now see that our people have spoken clearly.
“Adamawa people know what they should expect. We have started well and by the grace of God, we are going to do more than what we did in our first term”.
PDP presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar congratulated Fintiri, saying that he deserved re-election.
On his Twitter page, he said the lessons from the exercise underscored the need for vigilance to prevent anti-democratic forces itching to undermine the people’s mandate.
He wrote: “Congratulations, Gov. Ahmadu Fintiri, on your deserved reelection as governor of Adamawa State.
‘Thank you to the people of Adamawa and men and women of goodwill for staying the course in resisting coupists and enemies of democracy from having their way.
“The lesson from this exercise and others is the need for Nigerians to be vigilant and never give in to anti-democratic forces, whose objective is to snatch, run with and undermine the mandate of the people as freely expressed in their votes.
“By the way, it is not yet Uhuru as we still have one more major mandate to reclaim, and together as one, we shall accomplish the task for the good of our country and its people”.
PDP expressed joy over the victory, describing it as the triumph of democracy.
It said in a statement: “The spontaneous jubilation of citizens in Adamawa State and across our nation at the official declaration of Governor Fintiri as the rightful winner of the election irrespective of the nefarious schemes by the rejected APC is a confirmation that the PDP and its candidate are indeed the choices of the people.
“Governor Fintiri’s overwhelming victory is a validation that the will of the people cannot be subdued no matter the plot by a tyrannic, domineering, and power-grabbing few who, with over-bloated ambition, desperately sought to subvert our democracy, scuttle the electoral process, compromise the judiciary, subjugate the people and impose an unconstitutional regime in the polity.
“The PDP salutes the courage, resilience, and determination of the people of Adamawa in resisting the defeated APC and compromised REC in their bid to destabilize the state.
“Our party also lauds the Adamawa State Returning Officer, Mohammed Mele, for his courage in standing on the side of justice, due process, and democracy in the discharge of his duty”.
Also, the PDP Governors Forum, in a statement by the Director General of the PDP Governors Forum, Hon. C. I. D. Maduabum said Nigeria has just been rescued from descent into the abyss, adding: “We have just dodged another bullet”.
The statement added: “We commend INEC for redeeming itself and hope that this is a harbinger of things to come.
“It is in this regard that the Commission is requested to promptly re-visit all other elections where infractions have been identified.
“Our party also lauds the Adamawa State Returning Officer, Mohammed Mele, for his courage in standing on the side of justice, due process, and democracy in the discharge of his duty”.
“Where the matters have been taken to the Tribunal, INEC should assume a garb and toga of neutrality and inform the Tribunals of the actual events that transpired in the elections.
“It has been shown by today’s development that INEC can reverse itself where mistakes have been made. We call on Gov. Fintiri to continue to justify this huge mandate and trust of the people of Adamawa”.
