…pledges loyalty to Edo people
The Labour Party governorship candidate in the September 21, 2024 election in Edo State, Olumide Akpata, says he cannot be remote-controlled by any political benefactor or godfather if elected in the poll.
He made this statement on Channels Television’s Politics Today programme on Thursday, saying he is only answerable to the people of the state.
“That is one reason they (Edo people) can trust the Labour Party government because we are answerable to the people,” Akpata said.
“I have no strings attached. I am not answerable to any godfather. I am not answerable to any political benefactor,” he said.
Akpata is considered one of the top contenders in the forthcoming governorship election in the state, alongside Asue Ighodalo of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Monday Okpebholo of the All Progressives Congress (APC). While both Ighodalo and Okpebholo are from Edo Central Senatorial District, the zone which there is a general consensus that it should produce the next governor of the state in the interest of equity and fairness, Akpata hails from not only Edo South but also Oredo, the same local government area with outgoing Governor Godwin Obaseki. Many pundits say that factor will work against the Labour Party candidate.
But Akpata, a former President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), is pushing on, saying unlike the other candidates who have the support of former and serving governors, he is not answerable to any political godfather.
He also said his campaign is not funded by Governor Obaseki whose anointed candidate is PDP’s Ighodalo.
“Initially, I was said to be the agent of Governor Obaseki, we were able to debunk that. Today, I was said to be sponsored by the APC. I think it is conspiracy theorising that is most stupid.
“I am funding myself and I have friends who believe in me and that we can do much better in Edo,” he said.
