In the aftermath of the Edo State governorship election, Labour Party candidate Olumide Akpata has raised concerns about the outcome and the integrity of the voting process.
Speaking on Sunday, Akpata shared his perspective on why he failed to secure a win at his polling unit and ultimately came in third place in the race.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared Monday Okpebholo of the All Progressives Congress (APC) the winner of the election, with 291,667 votes.
Asue Ighodalo of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) trailed with 247,274 votes, while Akpata garnered 22,763 votes.
In his statement, Akpata cited issues of voter intimidation and result manipulation as key factors affecting the election.
While he acknowledged there were no major incidents of ballot stuffing, he expressed concern over the widespread voter apathy, which led to a low turnout at the polls.
Akpata revealed that he lost his polling unit because he refused to engage in vote-buying, even though he had the resources to do so. He criticized both the APC and PDP for employing such tactics, arguing that vote-buying undermines the democratic process and the will of the people.
“What transpired on 21 September 2024 was not an election but a transaction,” Akpata said.
He emphasized that the economic hardships faced by many voters had influenced their decisions to sell their votes, but he warned that this short-term relief would lead to long-term damage.
“Our campaign steadfastly refused to engage in this cash-and-carry approach. We did not budget to compete with the two political parties with money,” Akpata added.
He further lamented that some Labour Party agents and faithful also succumbed to selling their votes, a move that, according to him, cost them the opportunity to bring about meaningful change in Edo State.
Akpata’s reflections underscore the deep-seated challenges facing Nigeria’s electoral process, where financial incentives often overshadow the voters’ true intentions.
As the state moves forward, Akpata remains firm in his commitment to challenging a system that prioritises wealth over the people’s will, warning of the detrimental effects it could have on the state’s future.
