A governorship aspirant on the platform of the Labour Party (LP), in Edo State, and former President, Nigeria Bar Association (NBA), Olumide Akpata, yesterday, said he is not Governor Godwin Obaseki’s mole or surrogate as being insinuated by mischief makers and political opponents in the state.
Briefing newsmen in Benin City, the Edo state capital, on recent happenings in the party, among others, Olumide denied any knowledge or involvement in the recent protest at the LP secretariat in Benin.
He said: “I want to clearly and unequivocally state that I have absolutely no knowledge of this protest, nor have I sanctioned or approved it in any way. The baseless rumours and insinuations that have been mischievously circulated that these protesters are carrying out my bidding are totally false, unfounded and quite ridiculous.”
He said that the allegations and rumours are emanating from certain quarters within and outside the LP that are opposed to his emergence as the party’s gubernatorial candidate in the coming February 22, 2024, primary elections.
SIMILARLY, Edo State governorship aspirant on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Gen. Charles Arhiavbere (rtd), has offered an insight as to why the Edo South Senatorial District holds the ace in the race for the state government house.
Speaking after submitting his N50 million expression of interest and nomination forms at the APC national secretariat in Abuja, he said that the voting population of the area is the basis and must not be toyed with.
Arhiavbere assured that he enjoys the goodwill to galvanise the voting population in the entire state irrespective of political leanings to sweep the poll.
MEANWHILE, the All Progressives Congress (APC), Deputy National Organising Secretary, Chidi Eze Duru, has assured of the party’s readiness to provide a level playing field for all aspirants. He gave the assurance when one of the party’s aspirants for the September 21, 2024 election, Dr. Ernest Afolabi Umakhihe, submitted his completed nomination form ahead of the primary election.
While receiving the forms at the party’s National Secretariat, in Abuja, witnessed by hundreds of Umakhihe’s supporters, including his wife, Florence, the Duru appreciated Umakhihe for running issue-based campaign so far and encouraged him to keep the trend.
Quadri Olaitan is a journalist and contributor to Freelanews.com, covering news, public affairs, and human-interest stories.
