Olumide Osaigbovo Akpata, the Candidate of the Labour Party, Edo 2024 Election, has resolved not to challenge the recent election
results before the election petitions tribunal, preempting negative outcomes.

Akpata also dismissed as falses, the swirling rumours and whispered insinuations that he has some sort of secret or backroom alliance with the All Progressives Congress (APC).

“I want to be crystal clear: these allegations are not just false; they are a malicious attempt to tarnish my reputation and the principles I stand for.

These rumours are not just an attack on me but on the collective aspirations of every Edo citizen yearning for genuine change,” he said.

The Nigerian Bar Association’s President says he is redirecting his energies and resources toward grassroots mobilisation and advocacy for electoral reform including rebirth of democracy in Edo State and Nigeria

In a message to his supporters and other key stakeholders,  Akpata,  says: ” After extensive deliberations with my legal team and key stakeholders, I have made the decision not to challenge the recent election results before the tribunal.

This choice, borne out of deep reflection and rigorous analysis, transcends mere political calculation.

It is a statement on the state of our democracy and a clarion call for all who cherish the principles of free and fair elections.

As a legal practitioner with over three decades of experience, alongside my deputy, a distinguished Senior Advocate of Nigeria, we have scrutinised every facet of this election.

Our conclusion, reached after we had consulted with some of the nation’s finest legal minds, is not just about the outcome of a single election but about the very foundations of our democratic process.

The irregularities that marred this election – from brazen vote-buying to questionable collation procedures – are symptomatic of a deeper malaise afflicting our electoral system.

These are not mere technical infractions but fundamental breaches of the social contract between the government and
the governed.

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 sometimes serve to legitimise a fundamentally
compromised process.

Instead, I commit myself to the arduous but necessary task of systemic reform.

Our fight transcends the confines of a courtroom; it is a battle for the very soul of our democracy.

The stark reality we face is this: Nigeria’s electoral adjudication framework has
become a labyrinth where justice is often lost to technicalities.

The burden of proof placed on petitioners is not just high; it is often insurmountable. Moreover, the custodianship of crucial electoral materials by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), which is itself a necessary party and defendant in election petitions, presents practical challenges in building a compelling case within stipulated time frames.

These factors, combined with my vision for a more robust democratic framework, have informed my strategic decision to focus on grassroots mobilisation and advocacy for electoral reform.”