In a quick response to Barrister Olumide Akpata’s selection as the candidate by the Julius Abure-led national leadership of the Labour Party for the upcoming Edo State governorship election, the faction led by Alhaji Lamidi Apapa has introduced its own candidate for the race less than a day later.
As reported by NewsNow, Barrister Akpata was announced as the party’s candidate following a governorship primary held in Benin City on Friday, with the Deputy Governor of Abia State, Engr Ikechukwu Emetu, making the declaration. Barrister Akpata clinched the candidacy with 316 votes, surpassing other contenders.
Meanwhile, the Apapa-led faction of the party submitted the names of its candidate and deputy governorship candidate to the National Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in a letter dated February 22, 2024, addressed to Abuja.
The letter, signed by Alhaji Lamidi Apapa as the Acting National Chairman and Alhaji Saleh Lawan as the Acting National Secretary, was seen on various social media platforms, including the Edo State Labour Party’s WhatsApp group.
The governorship candidate was identified as Barrister Anderson Uwadiae Asemota, paired with Barrister Monday Ojore Mawah as the running mate in the primary held in Benin City on February 22, 2024, as listed by Apapa.
Confirmation of the letter was given by Apapa over a phone call, where he simply affirmed, “Yes, it is true. The letter is from us.”