The Labour Party (LP), under the leadership of Julius Abure, has expressed discontent with the party’s candidate in the recently concluded Edo State governorship election, Barr. Olumide Akpata, and former presidential candidate Mr. Peter Obi, for what it perceives as contributing factors to the party’s underwhelming performance in the election.
In his remarks, Abure extended his congratulations to the newly elected Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo, of the All Progressives Congress (APC). He commended Okpebholo’s victory, acknowledging it as a well-deserved win.
Julius Abure[/figure]The party also praised the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for conducting what they described as one of the most transparent, peaceful, and credible elections in the country’s history.
The Labour Party’s Publicity Secretary, Abayomi Arabambi, in a statement released to the press in Abeokuta, the capital of Ogun State, further emphasized that those accusing INEC of bias and fraud in the election are unwilling to acknowledge their own mistakes, instead placing blame on external factors.
Arabambi stated, “Whatever INEC does is deemed correct by those who benefit from it. The issue with Nigerians and their leaders is that if something doesn’t favor them, they criticize it, but if it works in their favor, even if flawed, they declare it right.”
The party noted that just a week prior, Mr. Peter Obi and Governor Alex Otti were applauding INEC for declaring that Abure’s tenure as Labour Party chairman had expired. Despite their knowledge that a national convention was held in Nnewi, with INEC in attendance—sponsored by Alex Otti, whose Deputy represented him at the convention—Obi and Otti now accuse INEC of acting improperly because the election result in Edo did not favor them.
Arabambi highlighted that Peter Obi and Governor Alex Otti’s domineering attitude, hunger for power, and failure to work collaboratively with the National Working Committee of the party, led by Abure and Secretary Alhaji Farouk Umar Ibrahim, were key factors that contributed to the Labour Party’s defeat in the governorship election.
“One major reason for the Labour Party’s loss was that Olumide Akpata hails from the same local government (Oredo) and senatorial district as outgoing Governor Godwin Obaseki, who is completing his eight-year term. The people of Edo State were eager for the next governor to come from Edo Central, which is why both the APC and the PDP fielded candidates from that region,” Arabambi explained.
He went on to criticize a statement attributed to Peter Obi, in which Obi claimed that INEC’s actions during the election would have lasting negative consequences for those responsible, even affecting their descendants. Arabambi labeled Obi’s remarks as an insult to the people of Edo, who were seeking fairness and justice for the Edo Central Senatorial District—a pursuit Obi allegedly opposed.
Furthermore, the Labour Party criticized its governorship candidate, Olumide Akpata, for alleging that the election was driven by vote-buying. Arabambi argued that Akpata lacked the moral authority to make such claims, accusing him of engaging in similar practices during the Labour Party primaries.
“Olumide Akpata has no right to complain about vote-buying. During the Labour Party primaries, he allegedly distributed $1,000 to each delegate to secure the party’s ticket. He also provided vehicles to key figures in the party and used the police to intimidate those who questioned his actions. Akpata essentially purchased the support of the National Working Committee to secure the governorship ticket,” Arabambi claimed.
The Labour Party concluded by urging the people of Edo State to support their newly elected governor. The party reaffirmed its commitment to upholding the constitution and principles of the Labour Party under the leadership of Julius Abure.