Edo Guber Poll marred by widespread vote-buying, ‘election now commodity market’– LP’s Akpata

• Reacting to the outcome of the election, Akpata stated the election was marred by pervasive vote-buying and irregularities

The Labour Party, LP, candidate in the Edo State governorship election, Olumide Akpata, has said the poll is an anathema to the ideals of democracy and runs counter to the tenet of free and credible polls.

Akpata, who came a distant third in the election with 22,763 votes, expressed his dissatisfaction with the conduct and outcome at a press conference in Benin City.

Reacting to the outcome of the election, Akpata stated the election was marred by pervasive vote-buying and irregularities.

This is even as he said he had no sympathy for the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, for crying blue murder after losing the poll.

He made his position known in a statement titled, ‘Unbowed, unbent and unbroken: Statement on the 2024 Edo State gubernatorial election results’.

Akpata said the ruling party in the state was allegedly crying foul after being outmanoeuvred in the disturbing game of thrones.

He claimed that the party willingly participated in the bidding war with the All Progressives Congress, APC,when it was fully aware of the rules from the outset.

He said, “PDP, who now cry foul after being outmanoeuvred in this macabre game of thrones. They willingly participated in the bidding war with the APC, fully aware of the rules from the outset.

“Their lamentations ring hollow in the face of their own complicity in this democratic travesty.

“We reserve our strongest condemnation for those who engaged in vote buying, the APC and PDP. Their actions have directly contributed to the destruction of our State’s economy over the past 25 years, creating the enabling environment for this democratic sacrilege to thrive.

“This election has laid bare the stark reality that our political landscape is dominated not by ideologies or the people’s will, but by those with the deepest pockets and the most extensive networks of influence.

“As for the APC and the Governor-elect, their actions have undermined the democratic process, betrayed the trust of the very people they seek to lead, and eroded faith in our democratic institutions.

“This is the legacy that wil
overshadow their ill-gotten mandate. Their “grab, snatch, and run” playbook is akin to riding on the back of a tiger will ultimately be the source of their undoing.

“The engagement of widespread vote-buying scheme by APC and PDP has reduced our electoral process to a commodity market and a bidding war for votes.”