Olumide Akpata, former President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), has secured the Labour Party (LP) ticket for the upcoming gubernatorial election in Edo State, News About Nigeria reports.
The victory was achieved with Akpata scoring 316 votes in an election held in Benin City on Friday.
The deputy governor of Abia State, Ikechukwu Emeta, who also served as the chief returning officer for the LP election, declared Akpata the winner.
“I hereby declare as follows: Mr. Olumide Osaigbovo Akpata, having scored the highest number of votes and certified the provisions of the constitution of the party, is hereby declared the winner and the gubernatorial candidate of the Labour Party for the Edo State governorship election 2024,” Emeta announced.
Expressing his gratitude, Akpata paid tribute to the late Rotimi Akeredolu, a former governor of Ondo State and NBA president, who was buried on the same day.
He extended appreciation to his supporters and party members, promising to work for the well-being of the state if he emerges victorious in the governorship election.
Akpata officially declared his decision to run for the Edo State governorship under the Labour Partyin October.
During a visit to the Edo LP secretariat in Benin City, he stated that his interest in politics was driven by a desire to prioritise the people’s welfare and engagement.
In August of the same year, Akpata resigned from the law firm Templars, where he served as a senior partner, because he intended to participate actively in politics.
The firm issued a statement confirming his decision and acknowledging the need for Akpata to focus entirely on his political endeavours.
He stated, “This, for me, is the start of a very important journey, and it is my prayer that I arrive safely at my destination.”
