Olumide Akpata, the Labour Party candidate in the recent Edo State governorship election, has announced that he will not contest the results of the September 21 poll in court. This declaration came in a statement released on Saturday.
Akpata, who previously served as the president of the Nigerian Bar Association, finished third in the election, garnering 22,763 votes. He was defeated by Monday Okpebholo of the All Progressives Congress (APC), who received 291,667 votes, while Asue Ighodalo of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) secured second place with 247,274 votes.
Despite citing irregularities and instances of electoral malpractice during the election, Akpata explained that his decision to forgo legal action is not an acceptance of injustice but rather a principled stance against a flawed electoral system.
In his statement, he said, “My decision not to approach the tribunal is not a capitulation to injustice but a resolute stand against a flawed system. I choose to rise above the quagmire of protracted legal battles that often serve to legitimise a fundamentally compromised process."
He emphasized his commitment to systemic reform, stating, “Our fight transcends the confines of a courtroom; it is a battle for the very soul of our democracy.”
Akpata also indicated that he would address the rationale behind his choice, confront circulating rumors, and outline his vision for electoral reform in a forthcoming comprehensive statement about his decision not to pursue a challenge in the Edo State Gubernatorial Election Petition Tribunal.
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