The Labour Party (LP) candidate during the recent governorship election in Edo state, Olumide Akpata, has debunked reports claiming that he has a secret alliance with the All Progressive Congress (APC).
Akpata who came a distant third in the Edo State governorship election with 22,763 votes debunked the report in a statement on Saturday night.
He denied rumors that his decision not to challenge the election result in court is because he has a “secret or backroom alliance” with the APC.
“I want to be crystal clear, these allegations are not just false, they are a malicious attempt to tarnish my reputation and the principles I stand for,” Akpata said.
“These rumours are not just an attack on me but on the collective aspirations of every Edo citizen yearning for genuine change.”
The former president of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) said he would rather dedicate his time to spearheading electoral reforms and building a vibrant opposition in Edo State.
The LP standard-bearer in the Edo state governorship election, also reaffirmed that he would not be challenging the outcome in court.
APC’s Monday Okpebholo was declared winner of the September 21 poll by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) after securing 291,667 votes to defeat his closest challenger, Asue Ighodalo of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who polled 247,274 votes.
Akpata in a statement said his decision not to challenge the election results in the court of law “transcends mere political calculation.”
“Today, as the statutory window for filing petitions at the gubernatorial election tribunal closes, we stand at a pivotal juncture in Edo State and Nigeria’s democratic journey,” he said.
“After extensive deliberations with my legal team and key stakeholders, I have made the decision not to challenge the recent election results before the tribunal.
“This choice, borne out of deep reflection and rigorous analysis, transcends mere political calculation. It is a statement on the state of our democracy and a clarion call for all who cherish the principles of free and fair elections.”
Akpata said as a legal practitioner with over three decades of experience, alongside his deputy, a distinguished Senior Advocate of Nigeria, they have scrutinised every facet of this election.
He said their conclusion, reached after consulting with some of the nation’s finest legal minds, is not just about the outcome of a single election but about the very foundations of Nigeria’s democratic process.
