Edo election: Why I’m not going to tribunal – Akpata
By Jeffrey Agbo
Former governorship candidate of the Labour Party, Olumide Akpata, has said he will not challenge the results of the September 21, 2024 Edo State governorship election.
“Today, as the statutory window for filing petitions at the gubernatorial election tribunal closes, we stand at a pivotal juncture in Edo State and Nigeria’s democratic journey,” the ex-president of the Nigerian Bar Association said in a statement on Sunday.
“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.
“My decision not to approach the tribunal is not a capitulation to injustice, but a resolute stand against a flawed system.
“I chose to rise above the quagmire of protracted legal battles that often 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.
“This choice, borne out of deep reflection and rigorous analysis, transcends mere political calculation.
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“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 consulting 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.”
Akpata came third in the election in which the Independent National Electoral Commission declared the candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Monday Okpebholo, the winner.
While he scored 22,763 votes, Okpebholo was credited with 291,667 votes.
Asue Ighodalo, the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, polled 247,274 votes.
