Former NBA President Olumide Akpata reveals his reasons for not contesting the outcome of the Edo State election, emphasizing the need for political stability and respect for democratic processes.
Olumide Akpata, the Labour Party’s candidate for governor in Edo State, announced on Saturday that he will not contest the outcome of the September 21 gubernatorial election.
Akpata finished in third place with 22,763 votes in the election. He was defeated by Monday Okpebholo of the All Progressives Congress (APC), who secured a victory with 291,667 votes, surpassing Asue Ighodalo of the PDP, who came in second with 247,274 votes.
Three weeks following the contest, Akpata stated that he would not take his case to the Tribunal, even though he had mentioned irregularities and electoral malpractice during the process.
He stated, “My choice not to challenge the election results in court is not a sign of compromise; instead, it is a strategic decision intended to focus our efforts on implementing systemic changes that are crucial for our democracy’s progress.”
This moment demands a fundamental change in how we approach electoral reform. We can no longer function within a system that encourages manipulation and disenfranchisement.
Additional details to come…
