Edo Poll: Disregard Purported Call On Akpata To Stay Off Guber Race, LP Tells Residents

…says Originator Of Report Expelled Long Ago

The Edo State chapter of Labour Party (LP) has urged residents of the state to disregard a purported call on Olumide Akpata, one of the party’s governoship aspirants to stay off the gubernatorial election slated for September, 2024.

One of the national dailies and some other online platforms had published a statement signed by one Dr. Abayomi Arabambi,yesterday, December 27, 2023, wherein the former Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) president was warned to stay off the gubernatorial race, claiming that Akpata was a mole.

But reacting to the publication in a statement made available to INFO DAILY, State Publicity Secretary of the party, Comarde Sam Uruopa, said the so-called Arabambi who signed the said statement had been expelled from the party, adding that the statement never emanated from the State Working Committee of the party, neither did it emanate from the national secretariat.

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While noting that Arabambi has no locus standi to determine who should aspire to be the governor of Edo State, Uruopa said: “The man who signed the statement is not a member of Labour Party, he has been expelled from the party long ago.

“More so, he is not an indigene of Edo State nor a registered voter from Edo State, hence he has no locus standi to determine who should aspire or not aspire for governor of Edo State come 2024.

“I want to state it unequivocally that Labour Party ably led by Comrade Kelly Ogbaloi in Edo State did not in any point issue warning to Barrister Olumide Akpata or any other aspirants to stay of the governorship race.”

Uruopa, who said Akpata, like every other aspirant is very qualified to test his popularity at the party primaries, appealed to party members and supporters of the party to give the needed support to any aspirant they believe in.

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Further expressing shock on how some persons are hell-bent in spoiling people’s chances, Uruopa said: “Anyone who read that publication should be able to design that it can never come from our party.

“But we are not distracted, and we can never be distracted by the publication. I believe the man concerned will never be distracted too. So, let us put the said publication behind us and move on.

“What we are more concerned about delivering good governance to the good people of Edo State after winning the September 2024 election.

“I want to, therefore, appeal to residents of Edo State to, as usual, give their support to our party before, during and after the election. By the grace of God we will occupy Osadebey Avenue next year and give them the real dividends of democracy they have been yearning for,” Uruopa added.