Olumide Akpata, a former president of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), has won the Labour Party (LP) ticket for the Edo State governorship election in September 2024.
Akpata received 316 votes during the election in Benin City, the capital of Edo State, which took place on Friday.
The Deputy Governor of Abia State, Ikechukwu Emeta, announced Akpata as the winner of the election.
“I hereby declare as follows: Mr. Olumide Osaigbovo Akpata, having scored the highest number of votes and certified the provisions of the constitution of the party, is hereby declared the winner and the gubernatorial candidate of the Labour Party for the Edo State governorship election 2024,” Emeta, who is also the chief returning officer for the election, said.
Following his emergence, Akpata expressed his gratitude to the late former governor of Ondo State and NBA president Rotimi Akeredolu, who was laid to rest on the same day.
He also extended his appreciation to his supporters and party members for their unwavering support, pledging to prioritize the well-being of the state if he wins the governorship election.
Akpata’s victory comes after he announced his intention to run for the Edo State governorship under the Labour Party several months ago.
In October, he officially declared his candidacy at the Edo LP secretariat in Benin City, citing his deep affection for the people as his motivation for entering the race.
“My interest is for the people of Edo State. And what I find out about politics and governance in Nigeria today is that the people have been taken out of the equation. Nobody cares about the people,” Akpata told the mammoth crowd that welcomed him.
“So, when I look around, the only party I find to be people-oriented and interested in lots of our people is the Labour Party. So I have come here to express my interest and to carry the people along.”
