Edo Guber: Senatorial Leader Declares Support for LP Candidate, Akpata

Adibe Emenyonu in Benin-city

The senatorial leader of the Labour Party (LP) in Edo Central, Edo State, Chief Friday Ibadin, has declared his full support for the governorship candidate of the party, Mr. Olumide Akpata. He also denied any plans to defect to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) or support the candidate of the party, Asue Ighodalo.

Ibadin made the declaration while reacting to a viral video where the PDP governorship candidate, Ighodalo, in company of the former Speaker of the Edo State House of Assembly, Friday Itulah, paid him a visit which was interpreted to mean that he has decided to dump the LP and defect to the PDP to support Ighodalo.

Besides, it was also rumoured that Ibadin, a retired Commissioner of Police, has collapsed the Obidient Movement structures to the PDP to help Asue Ighodalo win the gubernatorial election.

However, Chief Ibadin explained that being a traditional man and an in-law to the former Speaker, Itulah, his responsibility was to open his doors to any visitor, especially as Itulah is his in-law, adding: “As a traditional man and host, my duty was to open my doors to them.”

He categorically stated that he remains a vibrant member of the LP and a follower of the Obidient Movement.

According to him, “The lies by the Asue-led delegation has witnessed poor acceptance by the public as they were quick to point at all the various desperate moves by PDP to deceive the enlightened Edo people to accept their unpopular candidate, Asue, by parading PDP members as fake Obidients who defected from either Labour Party or Obidient Movement.”

Meanwhile, the Coordinator of Obidient Movement in Esan land, Onohinosen Ibhafidon, has queried why lies are being used as political tools by PDP  to deceive Edo people, assuring the people that Obidients are united for Olumide Akpata and are above ethnic politics but with eyes focused on good governance.

He, therefore, urged the PDP to focus on ways to sell their ‘unpopular candidate’ rather than dwelling on lies and deception “which they attempted with Chief Ibadin, as Edolites are wiser and only want good and inclusive governance that can deliver on their promises unlike what Nigerians are currently experiencing in the hands of APC.”

Onohinosen stated that to confirm the unity of the Obidient Movement in the state, and their massive support for the

Edo State gubernatorial candidate, Olumide Akpata, the presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 general election, Mr. Peter Obi, has charged all lovers of good governance to support Akpata so that the state can witness the massive development as being witnessed in Abia State.