The Labour Party’s governorship candidate in Edo State, Olumide Akpata, has expressed deep disappointment in the outcome of the recently concluded election.
He blamed members of his own party and voters for allowing the manipulation of the election, accusing them of selling their future to the ruling political parties for “peanuts.”
In a post-election statement, Akpata did not hold back in his criticism. While he expected that powerful forces might try to influence the election, he said the real shock came from within the electorate itself.
“We anticipated that powerful forces would attempt to skew the outcome in their favour, regardless of the will of the people,” Akpata said on Monday, reflecting on the events of the election held on September 21, 2024.
His disappointment was not just with the ruling parties—the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the People’s Democratic Party (PDP)—but also with members of the Labour Party, who he accused of betraying the cause by collaborating with their political opponents.
Akpata stated bluntly that what transpired on election day was not an election but a “transaction.” He accused the APC and PDP of using vote-buying to secure a majority, while many voters stayed away from the polls or willingly sold their votes to the highest bidder.
“Let us be clear, what transpired on 21 September 2024 was not an election but a transaction. It was enabled by those who chose to stay away, making it easier for the two dominant parties to afford a significant majority of the few votes on offer,” Akpata declared.
Akpata went on to express his frustration, saying that even some members of his own party were complicit in the process.
“It became painfully clear that we did not have the people, as many, including some Labour Party faithful and agents, willingly sold their future for peanuts to the very political parties whose actions and policies have impoverished them,” he added.
The final results of the election dealt a significant blow to Akpata’s campaign. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared the APC candidate, Monday Okpebholo, as the winner of the Edo State governorship election, with 291,667 votes. The PDP candidate, Asue Ighodalo, followed with 247,274 votes, while Akpata trailed far behind, securing only 22,763 votes.
This outcome was a bitter pill to swallow for the Labour Party, which had positioned itself as a rising political force in Nigeria. Many in the party had hoped to build on the momentum gained during the 2023 general elections when Peter Obi, the party’s presidential candidate, garnered significant support across the country.
However, the results in Edo State revealed that the party still faced considerable challenges, particularly in competing against the established political machinery of the APC and PDP.
The disappointment felt by Akpata was echoed by the Labour Party’s chairman in Edo State, Kelly Ogbalo. Speaking on Monday, Ogbalo alleged that the Labour Party had won the election but was not allowed to “take possession” due to widespread irregularities.
“What I mean by that is that the election was marred with serious irregularities. There was open vote buying. The security agencies failed to check this anomaly,” Ogbalo said, voicing his frustration with the way the election had been conducted.
He claimed that the ruling APC had used its influence to manipulate the results, and that the election had not been free and fair. Ogbalo’s statement suggests that the Labour Party believes the election was rigged in favour of the ruling party, though no concrete evidence has been provided to support these claims.
When asked whether the party would challenge the results in court, Ogbalo stated that no decision had been made at that time. He hinted, however, that the party might pursue legal action, especially if they felt the electoral process had been fundamentally flawed.
Akpata’s harsh criticism of voters who sold their votes highlights a growing problem in Nigeria’s electoral process: vote-buying. In recent years, the practice of exchanging money or goods for votes has become increasingly common, especially in local and state elections.
Both the APC and PDP have been accused of engaging in vote-buying in past elections. Critics argue that this practice undermines democracy by allowing wealthy political parties to purchase electoral victories rather than winning through genuine support from the people.
Akpata condemned the situation, describing it as a betrayal of the future of the people who participated in the transaction. He argued that voters who sold their votes were allowing the very political parties responsible for their economic struggles to remain in power.
“Many, including some Labour Party faithful, willingly sold their future for peanuts,” Akpata lamented. He emphasized that by accepting these short-term gains, voters were ensuring that the same corrupt politicians would continue to dominate the political landscape and perpetuate policies that keep the population in poverty.
Akpata’s message was clear: if Nigerians want real change, they must resist the temptation to sell their votes and instead focus on electing leaders who have their best interests at heart.
