Olumide-Akpata

Olumide Akpata, the Labour Party (LP) candidate in the recent Edo State governorship election, has revealed his reasons for not yet challenging the election results. Despite finishing third, Akpata has expressed significant concerns over the integrity of the electoral process.

In an interview with Channels TV, Akpata, who previously served as the President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), stated that his legal team is currently evaluating the evidence of alleged irregularities during the election. He emphasized that any decision to contest the results would be made in consultation with his legal advisors and the Labour Party leadership.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared Monday Okpebholo of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the winner, with 291,667 votes. Asue Ighodalo of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) followed with 247,274 votes, while Akpata garnered 22,763 votes.

Akpata highlighted issues such as vote buying, voter apathy, and other irregularities that he believes compromised the election’s fairness. He stressed the importance of a thorough review by his legal team before making any public statements or legal moves.

“It is a decision that the Labour Party and I will have to take jointly whether or not we will challenge the outcome of the election,” Akpata said. “I am going to be meeting with my lawyers, and the Labour Party will also be meeting with its lawyers. Then we will come to a decision whether or not we will be challenging the outcome of the election”.

Akpata’s cautious approach underscores the complexities involved in electoral disputes and the need for substantial evidence before proceeding with legal challenges.