Fintiri warns democracy still under threat as book on 2023 poll is unveiled

Adamawa State governor, Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri, has described the 2023 governorship election in the state as a defining moment that exposed deep flaws in Nigeria’s democratic process, warning that the country must remain vigilant against forces he said continue to undermine electoral integrity.

Fintiri spoke on Monday in Yola at the formal presentation of a book titled Fintiri – The Man They Could Not Stop, authored by journalist Solomon Kumangar. The event drew prominent political figures, traditional leaders and civil society actors.

The governor said the book, which focuses largely on the circumstances surrounding the 2023 election in Adamawa, should be seen as a journalist’s account rather than a definitive record, noting that more narratives would emerge over time.

“This is not my book,” Fintiri said, despite his name and image appearing on the cover. “It is the author’s account, written from the perspective of a journalist who was also part of our media team. Others who disagree are free to write their own versions.”

He described the 2023 election as an episode marked by treachery, moral compromise and elite desperation, adding that it brought embarrassment not only to Adamawa State but to Nigeria’s democracy. According to him, the events surrounding the poll revealed both the fragility of democratic institutions and the resilience of ordinary voters.

“If 2023 had not happened, we would not have known some people for who they truly are,” the governor said, accusing unnamed political actors of opportunism and hypocrisy. He warned that many of those he described as “pretenders” remain active in national politics, shuttling between Yola and Abuja.

Fintiri argued that democracy could not rely solely on the justice system to address electoral wrongdoing, urging citizens to resist anti-democratic forces through sustained political engagement and the ballot box.

The book was reviewed by the Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Matthew Hassan Kukah, who emphasised the importance of documenting political history and speaking truth to power. Former Senate president Bukola Saraki delivered the keynote address, focusing on the need to protect electoral mandates and strengthen democratic culture in Nigeria.

Nasarawa State governor, Abdullahi Sule, chaired the occasion, while the unveiling of the book was led by the All Progressives Congress national vice-chairman (north-east), Mustapha Salihu.

Fintiri praised the author, whom he said he had known for nearly five decades, describing Kumangar as a seasoned writer with a sharp and sometimes caustic style. He said the book had opened the way for future accounts of the 2023 election and the early years of his administration.

The governor added that the title of the book reflected only part of his political journey, noting that attempts to stop him did not begin or end with the last election. He hinted that a more comprehensive account of the events surrounding 2023 could be published in a future memoir.