The Labour Party’s candidate in the recent Edo State gubernatorial election, Olumide Akpata, has described the exercise as “deeply flawed” while reaffirming his commitment to Nigeria’s democratic process and future political participation.
Speaking during an interview on Channels Television, Akpata said the outcome of the election would not deter him from continuing efforts to drive meaningful change in Edo State and across the country.
He raised serious concerns about the credibility of the poll, citing extremely low voter turnout—allegedly as little as 2% of eligible voters—and widespread vote buying. According to him, nearly 300,000 out of the approximately 500,000 votes cast were influenced by financial inducements, undermining the integrity of the results.
Akpata noted that the Labour Party lacked the financial capacity to compete with rival parties accused of engaging in vote buying, which he believes significantly shaped the election outcome.
Addressing internal party controversy, Akpata dismissed allegations by Labour Party National Chairman, Julius Abure, who claimed he purchased the party’s ticket. Akpata clarified that any financial contributions he made were aimed at strengthening the party’s structure and operations, not securing personal advantage.
On the possibility of contesting the results, he disclosed that he and his legal team are currently reviewing available evidence and consulting with lawyers before deciding on the next course of action.
Akpata concluded with a strong call for urgent electoral reforms, warning that persistent irregularities could erode public trust and endanger Nigeria’s democracy.
“The issue is not whether I or the Labour Party won,” he said. “The real concern is the integrity of our electoral system. If this continues, we risk losing our democracy entirely.”
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