The Labour Party (LP) in Edo state has announced Olumide Akpata, a former president of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) as its flagbearer for the September 2024 governorship election.
Akpata was declared winner by the Deputy Governor of Abia State Ikechukwu Emeta who is also the returning officer for the election.
News Central gathered that Akpata secured 316 votes to emerge first at the Bishop Kelly Pastoral Centre, Airport Road in Benin City, the Edo State capital.
Akpata, 51 signalled his interest in the Edo State governorship race under the Labour Party a few months ago.
In October, he paid a courtesy visit to executives of the party at the Edo LP secretariat in Benin City, to formally declare his interest in the race.
“My interest is for the people of Edo State. And what I find out about politics and governance in Nigeria today is that the people have been taken out of the equation. Nobody cares about the people,” Akpata told his teeming fans.
“So, when I look around, the only party I find to be people-oriented and interested in lots of our people is the Labour Party. So I have come here to express my interest and to carry the people along.”
He was a senior partner at the law firm Templars before he resigned to contest for the Edo state governorship.