Mr. Olumide Akpata, a former president of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), publicly declared his intention to run for governor of Edo State on the platform of the Labour Party (LP) late Thursday.
Akpata stated that he chose to run for the top seat in the state through the LP because it is the only party that is people-oriented, adding that his concern is for the people of the state. Akpata was at the state headquarters of the party secretariat when he had a private meeting with party leadership.
He bemoaned that the interests of the people are no longer represented in government and vowed to alter the narrative if given the chance to fly the LP flag.
He said: “My interest is for the people of Edo State.
And what I find out in politics and governance in Nigeria today is that the people have been taken out of the equation. Nobody cares about the people.
“So, when I look around, the only party I find to be people-oriented and to be interested in the lots of our people is the Labour Party. So I have come here to express my interest and to carry the people along, I will also take the party, our great Labour Party to greater heights in the event that I emerge as the candidate of the party in the primary.”
Responding, state chairman of the party, Kelly Ogbaloi, said the State Working Committee of the party has accepted to allow him to run, just as he promised a level playing ground for all aspirants.