In the letter, she argued that what followed was a breach of that trust, when on February 26, social media became flooded with evidence of voting irregularities.
“Numbers crossed out and rewritten; some originally written in black ink had been rewritten in blue, some blunderingly white-out with Tipp-Ex. The election had not only been rigged, but done in such a shoddy, shabby manner that it insulted the intelligence of Nigerians.”
According to her, the ruling party’s candidate, Tinubu, was eventually announced as the President-elect of Nigeria.
“Rage is brewing,” Adichie said, “especially among young people. The discontent, the despair, the tension in the air have not been this palpable in years.”
The novelist faulted the United States State Department’s response in congratulating Tinubu and accepting the election results.
“American intelligence surely cannot be so inept. A little homework and they would know what is manifestly obvious to me and so many others: The process was imperiled not by technical shortcomings, but by deliberate manipulation.”
She told Biden that: “You have spoken of the importance of a ‘global community for democracy,’ and the need to stand up for ‘justice and the rule of law.’
“A global community for democracy cannot thrive in the face of apathy from its most powerful member. Why would the United States, which prioritises the rule of law, endorse a president-elect who has emerged from an unlawful process?”
She argued that: “Congratulating (the election’s) outcome, President Biden tarnishes America’s self-proclaimed commitment to democracy. Please do not give the sheen of legitimacy to an illegitimate process. The United States should be what it says it is.”
But in his response, Alake said Chimamanda Adichie’s letter to the US President was based on “falsehood.”
Alake said Adichie relied on “rumours, hearsay, presumptuous conjectures, and outright falsehood” in her letter, adding that she did not provide any evidence to back her claims.
