[ad_1]
Olumide Akpata, the candidate of the Labor Party (LP) in the recently concluded Edo State governorship election, has said he has no intention of challenging the election results in court.
Naija News reports that Akpata, a former president of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), disclosed this in a statement on Saturday.
Recall that the Independent National Electoral Commission has announced that All Progressives Congress Senator Monday Okpebolo has won the Edo State governorship election.
Mr Okpebolo received 291,667 votes, beating Asue Ighodalo of the PDP who got 247,274 votes and Olumide Akpata of the Labor Party who came third with 22,763 votes.
Out of the 18 local government areas in the state, APC won 10 areas while PDP secured eight.
In a statement shared on his X handle, Akpata said the decision not to contest the election was to avoid a protracted legal battle that would legitimize a fundamentally compromised process.
According to the LP candidate, his fight goes beyond the courts. It is a battle for the very soul of our democracy.
He writes: “My decision to stay away from the courts is not a capitulation to injustice, but a firm stand against a flawed system.
“I have chosen to rise above the morass of a protracted legal battle that serves to legitimize a fundamentally compromised process.
“Instead, I am committed to the difficult but necessary task of reforming the system. Our fight goes beyond the courts. It is a fight for the very soul of our democracy.
“Please read my full statement regarding my decision not to proceed to the Edo State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal.
“I delve into the rationale behind this important choice, confront head-on the widespread rumors, outline my strategic vision for electoral reform, and set the direction for our collective political future.” plan.”
