The Labour Party (LP) candidate in the recently concluded Edo State governorship election, Olumide Akpata, has raised concerns about alleged vote-selling by members of his party to opposition candidates.
Speaking in an interview on Channels TV, Akpata claimed that some Labour Party supporters who had pledged to vote for him during the campaign either stayed home on the election day or sold their votes to the highest bidder.
Akpata expressed disappointment, stating that the vote-selling undermined his chances in the election and damaged the integrity of the political process.
According to him, “Members of my own party sold their votes. It’s not just about the Labour Party; it’s about the entire electoral process. The ‘Papa, Mama, Pikin’ slogan gave us hope, not necessarily in the system, but in the people. However, the people chose to go for freshly minted cash. If you think you understand the electorate, think again.
“That’s a big lesson for me,” he said.
Akpata, who secured 32 votes, lost his polling unit to Asue Ighodalo of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) at polling unit 11, Ward 06, Oredo LGA, Benin City, Edo State.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared Monday Okpebholo of the All Progressives Congress (APC) the winner, with 291,667 votes, defeating Ighodalo of the PDP, who polled 247,274 votes. Akpata finished third with 22,763 votes.
Describing the election as a “bazaar,” the Labour Party candidate said his people were like “captives happy with their captors.”
“Nothing surprises me in Nigeria anymore. There was no real election in Edo, what took place was a transaction. I’m not claiming the Labour Party won, but it was a bazaar,” he stated.
Akpata blamed the situation on widespread poverty and deprivation and called for a complete overhaul of the country’s electoral system.
“The path to true democracy is long and filled with challenges, but it’s a journey we must take together. Our fight for good governance, transparency, and accountability continues,” he added.