Labour Party governorship candidate Olumide Akpata For Edo State Election has criticized last Saturday’s, alleging widespread vote-buying by the two leading parties, the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
However, Akpata expressed satisfaction with his performance and affirmed his commitment to contributing to the betterment of Nigeria and Edo State in any capacity.
Addressing a press conference on the outcome of the election, Akpata declared that the outcome of the poll lacked integrity adding that what transpired on 21 September 2024 was not an election but a transaction enabled by those who chose to stay away, making it easier for the two dominant parties to afford a significant majority of the few votes on offer.
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“Let us be clear: what transpired on 21 September 2024 was not an election but a transaction. It was enabled by those who chose to stay away, making it easier for the two dominant parties to afford a significant majority of the few votes on offer, and by those who came out and willingly sold their votes.
“A troubling theme emerged as the day unfolded: a widespread vote-buying scheme by both the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP). As attested to by YIAGA Africa, a leading civil society organisation and domestic observer group, our sacred electoral process was reduced to a commodities market – a bidding war for votes.
This practice, no less damaging than outright ballot stuffing, has effectively disenfranchised the people of Edo State.
Asked if he would take an opportunity to serve in the National Assembly in 2027 as already being speculated, he said “We went to talk to the people we went to see and we talked to them. God allowed me to see things for myself.
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“I belong to a generation that is about service, we want to turn the story around, we want to change the narrative.
By the time we re-organise this country, if it is a local government they said I should run, I will because I am not about the position. When we can arrange this country, any work I am given or in the course of re-arranging or re-organising this country, any task I am given, I will take.
“Like we say if you are a manager, manage well, if you are a driver, drive well, if you are a director, direct well, if you are governor govern well, if you are a senator senate well, policeman police well.
“That is how we are going to lead this country to the promised land. If I find myself in the National Assembly, all well. I didn’t get up to say it must be the governorship of nothing, I am owned by Nigeria, I am owned by Edo State, that is what propels me and I am worried about our state, our country. I am ready to serve in any capacity to make Nigeria a better place.”
