A former president of the Nigerian Bar Association, Olumide Akpata, has been declared the winner of the Labour Party governorship primary election in Edo State.
Akpata clinched the LP ticket for the September 2024 governorship election in the State, after scoring 316 votes to win the exercise held in Benin City, the Edo State capital, on Friday.
The former NBA president was declared the winner of the exercise, by the Deputy Governor of Abia State, Ikechukwu Emeta who is also the returning officer for the election.
His victory came, months after declaring interest in the Edo State governorship race under the Labour Party.
Akpata had in October, visited the Edo LP secretariat in Benin City to formally declare his interest in the race, saying his decision to participate in the race, was as a result of his love for the people.
Speaking after his emergence, Akpata paid tribute to the late immediate former governor of Ondo State and former NBA president, Rotimi Akeredolu who was buried on Friday.
The LP Governorship candidate also thanked his supporters and members of the party for their backing, promising to work for the good of the state if he wins the governorship election.
“My interest is for the people of Edo State. And what I find out about politics and governance in Nigeria today is that the people have been taken out of the equation. Nobody cares about the people.
“So, when I look around, the only party I find to be people-oriented and interested in lots of our people is the Labour Party. So I have come here to express my interest and to carry the people along,” Akpata said amidst the crowd that welcomed him.
