The national leadership of the Labour Party has commended the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for conducting what it described as a free, fair, credible, and peaceful election in Edo State. The party also extended congratulations to the Edo State Governor-elect, Senator Monday Okpebholo, of the All Progressives Congress (APC), praising his well-deserved victory in the recently concluded governorship election.
In a statement signed by Dr. Abayomi Arabambi, the party’s National Publicity Secretary, the Labour Party rejected criticisms directed at INEC by those who deemed the election flawed. According to Arabambi, those making such allegations have failed to learn from past political experiences.
The statement highlighted, “Whatever INEC does is correct. The issue with Nigerian leaders is that if the results do not favor them, they claim the process is wrong. If it does, they justify even questionable practices.” This remark comes in response to criticism from Mr. Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s former presidential candidate, and his close ally, Governor Alex Otti of Abia State, who expressed discontent over the outcome of the election.
The Labour Party leadership went on to accuse Obi and Otti of deceit, high-handedness, and a lust for power, which, according to them, contributed to the party’s failure in the Edo election. The statement further alleged that Obi’s support for Labour Party’s candidate, Olumide Akpata, despite knowing the political dynamics in Edo, betrayed the party’s core values of fairness and equity. Obi, they claimed, ignored the sentiment in Edo State, which favored a governor from Edo Central, and instead supported Akpata, from Edo South—the same senatorial district as the outgoing governor, Godwin Obaseki.
Arabambi criticized Obi’s recent remarks concerning INEC’s use of electoral technology, calling them unfortunate and divisive. Obi had warned that the misuse of technologies like IReV and BVAS would lead to societal consequences. The Labour Party leadership dismissed these comments, stating that such criticisms are an “insult to the people of Edo” who demanded equity and fairness in the governorship election.
The Labour Party noted that Akpata lost not only to the APC but also to the PDP in his own polling unit, further emphasizing the lack of strategy within the Labour Party’s campaign. The APC candidate, Okpebholo, secured 291,667 votes, while the PDP’s Asue Ighodalo garnered 247,274 votes. Akpata’s tally was described as a “scandalous” 22,763 votes.
Furthermore, the statement condemned Akpata’s allegations that the election was bought by the highest bidder. The Labour Party argued that Akpata himself engaged in questionable practices, including distributing $1,000 to delegates to secure the Labour Party’s governorship ticket. “It’s unfortunate that those with bigger money have now outbid him, and yet he is complaining,” the party noted.
In conclusion, the Labour Party reaffirmed its support for INEC and congratulated the electoral body for the successful conduct of the Edo election. It also called on Mr. Peter Obi to apologize to the Labour Party’s National Chairman, Barrister Julius Abure, and the National Secretary, Alhaji Farouk Umar Ibrahim, for what it described as his betrayal and divisive tactics.
Dr. Abayomi Arabambi, who was recently honored as the Most Peaceful Political Personality of the Year 2023, ended the statement by calling for unity within the party while urging Edo citizens to rally around their newly elected governor.
