Toba Owojaiye reporting
Benin City, Edo State
Olumide Akpata, the Labour Party candidate in the recently concluded Edo State governorship election, has explained why he will not challenge the election results, despite his credentials and experience.
In a statement released on Saturday, and made available to Truth Live News, Olumide Akpata, a former president of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), reflected on his decision after securing third place with 22,763 votes, behind the APC’s Monday Okpebholo, who won with 291,667 votes, and the PDP’s Asue Ighodalo, who garnered 247,274 votes.
Akpata’s statement read:
“Today, as the window for filing petitions at the gubernatorial election tribunal closes, we find ourselves at a critical point in Edo State and Nigeria’s democratic evolution. After extensive discussions with my legal team and stakeholders, I have decided not to contest the election results at the tribunal.
“This is not a surrender to injustice, but a refusal to engage in a system that rewards a flawed process. Rather than become mired in endless legal battles that do little but legitimize a compromised system, I am committed to systemic reform.
“Our struggle transcends courtroom arguments; it is a fight for the soul of democracy itself. This decision, grounded in deep reflection and rigorous analysis, is not just about the outcome of one election—it is a message about the state of our democratic process.”
While Akpata’s legal expertise and competence are beyond question, his candidacy failed to resonate with voters’ growing calls for fairness and equity. As capable as he was, his platform did not fully align with the pulse of the electorate, leaving him on the outside of a race that demanded more than just competence—it demanded a movement for real change.
