The Labour Party (LP) has commended the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for conducting what it describes as free, fair, and peaceful elections in Edo State. The party also congratulated the All Progressives Congress (APC) and its governor-elect, Senator Monday Okpebholo, on their victory.
Speaking through its National Publicity Secretary, Dr Abayomi Arabambi, LP criticized Dr. Peter Obi, its Presidential Candidate in the 2023 General Election, accusing him of dishonesty and selfishness for condemning INEC after the Edo election, despite previously supporting the commission when it suited his interests.
Arabambi said “Just last week, Peter Obi and Alex Otti were clapping for INEC who alleged that the tenure of Abure has expired. When they knew that we had a national convention in Nnewi, they knew we sent out invitation to INEC, Alex Otti sponsored the convention in Nnewi, Alex Otti Deputy represented the Governor in Nnewi, All the commissioners in Abia were in Nnewi, and yet because they wanted to forcefully, illegally take over the Party, they said INEC was correct to say Abure’s tenure has expired. When they themselves know that INEC was not truthful, INEC was acting illegally, today because they failed in Edo, INEC has done the wrong thing.
“Peter Obi and Gov Alex Oti heavy highhandedness, deceit, massive love for power grabbing, brash, abrasive approach and betrayal of National Working Committee of Labour party under National Chairman Barrister Julius Abure and National Secretary Alh Farouk Umar Ibrahim sowed the seeds for failures and contributed in many ways to LP loss in the governorship election. It is history now but an invaluable lesson for all those aspiring for high office.” The LP spokesman said in a statement he sent to TheWest Newspaper
The release further berated Labour Party’s candidate, Olumide Akpata, for vote-buying and hypocritically complaining about the election. LP urged Edo citizens to support the newly elected governor and called for Peter Obi to apologize to the party leadership for his actions.
The statement said: “Mr Peter Obi who is championing equity and justice supported Olumide Akpata who is from the Oredo Local Government with the current Governor of Edo that is completing his 8 years. Mr Peter Obi is aware that Both Governor Obaseki and Olumide Akpata are from same Edo South Senatorial District
“Mr Peter Obi knew the People of Edo State wanted the Next Governor to emerge from Edo Central which explains why APC and PDP took their respective candidates from there and yet for his inordinate and expansionist agenda to annex LP to his business empires, he closed his eyes against equity and justice” Dr. Arabambi said
LP also pointed out more reasons behind the unimpressive result its party recorded in the Edo guber poll. “We wish to remind Mr Peter Obi, that the Labour Party candidate, Olumide Akpata, lost his unit not to the APC, but to the PDP who scored 41 votes, APC 19 votes and LP 32 votes. This shows that APC were more focused on winning Edo State Governorship elections, where Sen Adams Oshiomole Locked down Edo North , the Governor elect locked down Edo Central while Governor Obaseki, Mr Peter Obi, Labour party and Olumide Akpata left to split Edo South which ultimately was responsible for the APC candidate to secured 291,667 votes, while Asue Ighodalo of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) got 247,274 votes, and Labour Party’s Olumide Akpata scored a scandalous 22,763 votes.
“Olumide Akpata has no reason to complain about the election, buying of votes. Akpata bought all the Labour Party delegates during the primary, he gave them $1,000. each to get the Labour Party ticket. He bought over the Party structure, gave them vehicles, He even called Police to those who pointed out the abnormality. He bought the National Working Committee over, and took the ticket.” Arabambi said
