By Gloria Ikibah
Members of the Labour Party (LP) in the House of Representatives have condemned the just concluded Edo State governorship election held last held on Saturday September21, 2024, describing it as “the highest theft of the season.”
The caucus claimed that the electorate were robbed of their votes and their democratic rights disregarded.
The Minority Whip and leader of the 33-member LP caucus in the House, Rep. George Ozodinobi, expressed this sentiment at a press conference on the outcome of the election on Tuesday at the National Assembly Complex.
Naijablitznews.com reports that in the polls, the LP’s candidate, Olumide Akpata, came in a distant third.
Rep. Ozodinobi emphasized that the Labour Party remains dedicated to upholding democratic principles and would not remain silent while the rights of Nigerian citizens are undermined. He therefore called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to urgently address the issues raised and safeguard the integrity of future elections, particularly the 2027 polls.
He said: “Obidient movement tsunami is coming no person born of a woman will stop us. The Commission must work tirelessly to prevent similar discrepancies and uphold the sanctity of the electoral process.
“We stand in solidarity with the people of Edo State and reassure them that we will continue to fight for their rights and interests. We, members of the Labour Party caucus in the House of Representatives, strongly condemn the outcome of the Edo State governorship election, which many stakeholders including election observers, civil society organisations, believe does not reflect the true will of the people”.
According to the leader of the caucus, the Labour Party fielded the best candidate, but he was unfairly excluded from the process. He emphasised that Akpata, a distinguished legal professional and former President of the Nigerian Bar Association, had garnered widespread support from the electorate. However, his efforts and standing in the election were allegedly sabotaged by what Ozodinobi termed “enemies of democracy.”
“It is on record that our leader and presidential candidate in the 2023 general elections, His Excellency Peter Obi campaigned vigorously for our gubernatorial candidate in every nook and cranny of the state. Of course, the whole world witnessed the massive crowd that the Obidient movement pulled wherever he went during the campaign. Yet, Chief Akpata was allocated paltry votes in a state where LP just about a year and seven months ago had one Senator and two House of Representatives members. Very disgraceful of the perpetrator of this crime”, he stated.
Ozodinobi also raised concerns about the alleged irregularities that plagued the electoral process, including widespread vote buying by major parties, intimidation of voters, mass thumb-printing of ballot papers, and pre-writing and alteration of results.
“This criminal enterprise, aided by some elements within the state, including security agents and even officials of the electoral umpire, must be stopped. Such malpractice must not be allowed in any future election. Nigeria deserves a transparent electoral process devoid of interference from state agents or external forces,” he added.