By: Our Correspondent
Olumide Akpata, the Labour Party’s (LP) candidate in the recently concluded Edo State gubernatorial election, has announced that he will not be contesting the election results in court.
In a statement released on Saturday, Akpata, a former president of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), made it clear that he would not be pursuing legal action against the outcome of the election.
Senator Monday Okpebholo of the All Progressives Congress (APC) was declared the winner by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), securing 291,667 votes. He defeated Asue Ighodalo of the PDP, who garnered 247,274 votes, and Akpata, who came third with 22,763 votes.
The APC emerged victorious in ten out of the state’s 18 local government areas, while the PDP won in eight.
Akpata explained his decision not to challenge the result in order to avoid lengthy court proceedings that often end up legitimizing a flawed electoral process. He emphasized that his fight is not limited to legal battles but rather aimed at broader reforms to improve the integrity of Nigeria’s democracy.
He wrote: “My choice to forgo the tribunal is not a surrender to injustice but a strong stance against a flawed system. I choose to rise above lengthy legal disputes that often serve to validate a compromised process.”
“Rather than engage in protracted legal challenges, I commit to the essential task of systemic reform. Our battle is not confined to the courtroom; it is a fight for the very essence of our democracy.”
Akpata further invited the public to read his full statement, where he addresses the reasons behind his decision, confronts ongoing rumors, shares his vision for electoral reform, and outlines the future path for political change in the country.
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