 candidate for the just concluded Edo State gubernatorial election, has said he will not contest the results of the poll in a tribunal.){kind=link}
Olumide Akpata, the Labour Party’s (LP) candidate for the just concluded Edo State gubernatorial election, has said he will not contest the results of the poll in a tribunal.
Akpata, the former president of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), revealed this information in a statement on Saturday.
Recall that the Edo State gubernatorial election was won by Senator Monday Okpebholo of the All Progressives Congress in a declaration by the Independent National Electoral Commission.
With 291,667 votes, Okpebholo defeated Asue Ighodalo of the PDP (247,274) and Olumide Akpata of the Labour Party (22,763 votes), who finished in third place.
The APC won ten of the state’s eight local government areas, while the PDP won eight.
Akpata said he decided not to contest the election in order to prevent drawn-out court fights that frequently help to legitimise a fundamentally flawed process in a statement posted on his X account.
The LP candidate claims that his struggle is not limited to the courts but rather is a struggle for the essence of our democracy.
He wrote: “My decision not to approach the tribunal is not a capitulation to injustice but a resolute stand against a flawed system.
“I choose to rise above the quagmire of protracted legal battles that often serve to legitimise a fundamentally compromised process.
“Instead, I commit myself to the arduous but necessary task of systemic reform. Our fight transcends the confines of a courtroom; it is a battle for the very soul of our democracy.
“Read my full statement that addresses my decision not to approach the Edo State Gubernatorial Election Petition Tribunal.
“I delve into the rationale behind this crucial choice, confront circulating rumours head-on, outline my strategic vision for electoral reform, and chart the course for our collective political future.”
