By Mercy Aikoye
The Labour Party has strongly condemned the outcome of the Edo State governorship election held on September 21, 2024. In a press briefing, 33 members of the Labour Party caucus in the House of Representatives expressed their disappointment and outrage over the election results, which they believe do not reflect the true will of the people.
According to the Labour Party, their candidate, Barr. Olumide Akpata, SAN, was brazenly rigged out of the process despite garnering significant support from the electorate. The party noted that Akpata, a renowned legal professional and former President of the Nigerian Bar Association, was allocate paltry votes in a state where the Labour Party had previously won one Senate seat and two House of Representatives seats.
The Labour Party also criticized the irregularities and alleged malpractices that marred the electoral process, including vote buying, intimidation of voters, mass thumb printing of ballot papers, and alteration of election results. The party described these actions as a “criminal enterprise” aided by some elements of the state, including security agents and officials of the electoral umpire.
The party’s leader and presidential candidate in the 2023 general elections, Peter Obi, had campaigned vigorously for Akpata in every part of the state, drawing massive crowds. However, the election results did not reflect this level of support.
The Labour Party emphasized its commitment to democratic principles and vowed not to stand idly by while the rights of citizens are trampled upon. The party urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to take immediate action to address concerns and ensure the integrity of future elections.
The party also expressed solidarity with the people of Edo State, reassuring them that they will continue to fight for their rights and interests.
The Edo State governorship election has been widely criticized by civil society organizations and election observers, with Yiaga Africa stating that the election failed the integrity test due to lack of transparency in the results collation process [1).
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has also rejected the election results, vowing to challenge the outcome in court.
In conclusion, the Labour Party has joined other stakeholders in condemning the outcome of the Edo State governorship election, calling for urgent action to address electoral irregularities and ensure the integrity of future elections.
