Why I won't challenge Edo gov election at tribunal - Akpata, LP candidate

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Olumide Akpata, Labour Party’s governorship candidate in the just concluded Edo State election, vowed nit to go to court over his loss in the election.

Akpata placed third with 22, 763 votes in the election in the September 21 gubernatorial election conducted in the state, losing to the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Monday Okpebholo, who raked in 291,667 votes to defeat PDP’s Asue Ighodalo, who came second with 247,274 votes.

However, three weeks after the contest, Akpata in a statement at the weekend said he wouldn’t challenge the governorship poll at the tribunal, despite citing irregularities and electoral malpractice in the exercise.

According to him, “My decision not to contest the election results at the tribunal is not an indication of compromise; rather, it is a strategic move aimed at redirecting our energies towards systemic changes that our democracy desperately needs.

“This moment calls for a paradigm shift in our approach to electoral reform. We cannot continue to operate within a system that incentivises manipulation and disenfranchisement.”

He identified the irregularities observed in the election, including widespread vote-buying and questionable collation procedures, adding that these are symptomatic of deeper problems in the country’s electoral system.

He said, “These are not mere technical infractions but fundamental breaches of the social contract between the government and the governed.”

He insisted, however, that despite his strong and experienced legal team, he would not approach the tribunal, explaining the decision is not a concession to injustice but a principled stand against a flawed system.

“The burden of proof placed on petitioners is not just high; it is often insurmountable,” he said, adding there.is the practical challenges in accessing critical electoral materials held by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Akpata dismissed as untrue his purported alliance with the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), saying, “The APC’s governance record in our state and across the nation speaks for itself—a litany of unfulfilled promises and a disturbing disregard for the rule of law.”

Akpata, who outlined his strategy for the future, explained that it includes advocating for comprehensive electoral reform, building a vibrant opposition in Edo State, investing in civic education, and forging alliances with civil society and international bodies.