Here’s a concise version of Olumide Akpata’s statement on the Edo State governorship election:
Olumide Akpata, the Labour Party candidate in the Edo State governorship election, expressed shock at the widespread vote-buying and voter apathy that marred the poll. Akpata, who finished third with 22,763 votes, described the election as a “transaction” rather than a democratic exercise.
He criticized the electorate’s willingness to sell their votes, citing economic hardships, and condemned the involvement of Labour Party supporters and agents in vote-selling. Akpata also criticized the establishment of a collegiate system of governance involving godfathers and external forces.
Akpata stated that the implications for Edo State are dire, including underdevelopment, misallocation of resources, and governance serving the interests of a few. He confirmed that his legal team is analyzing the election results to determine the next course of action.
The election saw APC’s Monday Okpebholo win with 291,667 votes, followed by PDP’s Asue Ighodalo with 247,274 votes. YIAGA Africa, a civil society organization, reported widespread vote-buying schemes orchestrated by both the APC and PDP.
