…says his decision ‘transcends mere political calculation’
The candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the September 21, 2024 governorship election in Edo State, Olumide Akpata, has said he would not be approaching the tribunal to challenge the result of the election, despite irregularities and electoral malpractices that characterised the exercise.
Akpata, in a statement posted on his X (formerly Twitter) account on Saturday night, said his decision not to challenge the election outcome goes beyond “mere political calculation”.
He said it “is not an indication of compromise; rather, it is a strategic move aimed at redirecting our energies towards systemic changes that our democracy desperately needs”.
Akpata, a former president of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), garnered 22,763 votes to come a distant third in the election in which the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Monday Okpebholo, was declared winner by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), with 291,667 votes. The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Asue Ighodalo, polled 247,274 votes to emerge second.
The statutory window for filing petitions at the gubernatorial election tribunal closed on Saturday.
According to Akpata’s statement, the decision not to challenge the election results before the tribunal came after extensive deliberations with his legal team and key stakeholders.
“This choice, borne out of deep reflection and rigorous analysis, transcends mere political calculation,” Akpata said.
“It is a statement on the state of our democracy and a clarion call for all who cherish the principles of free and fair elections.
“As a legal practitioner with over three decades of experience, alongside my deputy, a distinguished Senior Advocate of Nigeria, we have scrutinised every facet of this election.
“Our conclusion, reached after consulting with some of the nation’s finest legal minds, is not just about the outcome of a single election but about the very foundations of our democratic process,” he stated.
Akpata claimed that irregularities such as vote-buying and questionable collation procedures marred the election.
The irregularities, he said, are “symptomatic of a deeper malaise” afflicting the country’s electoral system.
“These are not mere technical infractions but fundamental breaches of the social contract between the government and the governed,” Akpata said.
“My decision not to approach the tribunal is not a capitulation to injustice but a resolute stand against a flawed system.
“I choose to rise above the quagmire of protracted legal battles that sometimes serve to legitimise a fundamentally compromised process.
“Instead, I commit myself to the arduous but necessary task of systemic reform. Our fight transcends the confines of a courtroom; it is a battle for the very soul of our democracy.
“The stark reality we face is this: Nigeria’s electoral adjudication framework has become a labyrinth where justice is often lost to technicalities.
“The burden of proof placed on petitioners is not just high; it is often insurmountable. Moreover, the custodianship of crucial electoral materials by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), which is itself a necessary party and defendant in election petitions, presents practical challenges in building a compelling case within stipulated timeframes.
“These factors, combined with my vision for a more robust democratic framework, have informed my strategic decision to focus on grassroots mobilisation and advocacy for electoral reform,” he said.
The Labour Party candidate denied claims that his choice not to challenge the election result in court suggests that he has a “secret or backroom alliance” with the APC.
“I want to be crystal clear: these allegations are not just false; they are a malicious attempt to tarnish my reputation and the principles I stand for. These rumours are not just an attack on me but on the collective aspirations of every Edo citizen yearning for genuine change,” he said.
Akpata said henceforth he would dedicate his time to spearheading electoral reforms and building a vibrant opposition.