…Condemns allegation of betrayal levelled against party agents, faithful
The Rt. Hon. Elizabeth Ativie-led State Executive Committee of Labour Party, LP, in Edo State has called on the candidate of the party in the just concluded Edo State Governorship Election, Barr. Olumide Akpata to take responsibility for his failure at the poll.
In a press statement signed by its Publicity Secretary, Airen Igbinedion and made available to TREND REPORTERS, the committee condemns in the strongest term the allegations of betrayal and vote-selling levelled against Labour Party agents and faithful.
The statement observed that the claims are not only false but also an affront to the hardworking and committed individuals in the party, who have consistently demonstrated their loyalties to it course.
The statement reads: “The attention of the Labour Party, Edo State Chapter, has been drawn to recent unfounded allegations made by our gubernatorial candidate, Barrister Olumide Akpata, following his defeat in the September 21, 2024, gubernatorial election.
“In these allegations, he has sought to blame the Labour Party and its dedicated members for his loss by insinuating that party agents were involved in vote-selling and other acts of disloyalty”.
While condemning the allegation of betrayal, the body stated that the party under the chairmanship of Rt. Hon. (Chief) Mrs. Elizabeth Ativie, was never involved in the uploading of polling unit agents for the election in question.
The statement further observed that, “Barrister Akpata chose to entrust the critical task of managing polling unit agents to his friends, allies, and cronies, bypassing the constitutionally recognized leadership and structure of the Labour Party in Edo State.
“For the avoidance of doubt, in a press statement issued by the National Chairman of the Labour Party, Barr. Julius Abure, on September 9, 2024, it was made clear that, following controversies and disputes raised by Barrister Akpata himself, the access code for uploading polling unit agents was handed over to him, granting him full autonomy to upload his agents”.
The statement therefore urged Barrister Akpata to offer a sincere apology to the party and its loyal members and acknowledge that the agents he personally selected and uploaded were the ones who sold him out, not the Labour Party agents or its dedicated members.
