Former President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Olumide Akpata has emerged winner of the Labour Party governorship primary conducted today Friday February 23, at the Bishop Kelly Pastoral Centre, Benin.
Announcing the results, Returning Officer of the primary and Deputy Governor of Abia State, Engr. Ikechukwu Emetu, said Akpata polled 316 votes to defeat his closest opponents, Kenneth Imansuangbon who polled 7 votes; Prof. Sunday Eromosele, 7 votes; Sergius Ogun, 4 votes to emerge governorship candidate of the party.
Engr Emetu said: “Akpata, having polled the highest number of votes and having met the requirements of the Labour Party constitution is hereby declared winner and return as the candidate of the Labour Party in the Edo State governorship election.”
The Returning Officer, while thanking other aspirants for their sportsmanship, and urged them to work with Olumide Akpata in the forthcoming election so that Labour Party comes out victorious.
Responding, Akpata paid tribune to late governor of Ondo State, Rotimi Akeredolu whom he described as his mentor at the bar and in politics.
He said he is following the trajectory of Akeredolu, adding that he would not disappoint party supporters.