Mr Olumide Akpata, former President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has won Edo Labour Party guber primary election.
Akpata secured 316 votes to win the exercise held in Benin City, the Edo State capital, on Friday.
The Deputy governor of Abia State, Ikechukwu Emetu, who is the returning officer for the poll made the declaration after collating the results.
After his emergence, Akpata paid tribute to a former governor of Ondo State and NBA president Rotimi Akeredolu who was buried on the same day.
He also thanked his supporters and members of the party for their backing, promising to work for the good of the state if he wins the governorship election.
His victory comes months after he declared interest in the Edo State governorship race under the Labour Party.
In October, he had visited the Edo LP secretariat in Benin City to formally declare his interest in the race, pinning the decision on his love for the people.
“My interest is for the people of Edo State. And what I find out about politics and governance in Nigeria today is that the people have been taken out of the equation. Nobody cares about the people,” Akpata told the mammoth crowd that welcomed him.
“So, when I look around, the only party I find to be people-oriented and interested in lots of our people is the Labour Party. So I have come here to express my interest and to carry the people along.”
