The national leadership of the Labour Party has congratulated the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for conducting what it described as one of the fairest, freest, and most peaceful elections in Edo State.
In a statement signed by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Dr. Abayomi Arabambi, the Labour Party also extended its congratulations to the Edo State Governor-elect, Senator Monday Okpebholo of the All Progressives Congress (APC), for his well-deserved victory.
Arabambi criticized those who have condemned INEC’s conduct of the election, stating that these individuals, including Labour Party’s former presidential candidate Peter Obi, are failing to learn from history.
He noted that the same individuals who had praised INEC for declaring that the tenure of Julius Abure, Labour Party’s National Chairman, had expired, are now criticizing the commission because the results did not favor them in Edo.
“The problem with Nigeria and its leaders is that if a situation doesn’t suit them, they claim it is wrong. But if it benefits them, even if it’s incorrect, they justify it as right,” Arabambi said.
He further accused Peter Obi and Abia State Governor Alex Otti of being deceitful and power-hungry, alleging that their abrasive approach and betrayal of the Labour Party’s National Working Committee contributed to the party’s loss in the Edo governorship election.
Arabambi also pointed out that Obi’s support for Labour Party candidate Olumide Akpata, who hails from the same local government and senatorial district as outgoing Governor Godwin Obaseki, worked against the principle of equity in Edo State.
Arabambi dismissed Obi’s claims about electoral malpractice involving INEC’s use of technologies like IReV and BVAS, calling Obi’s remarks “intellectually dubious” and an insult to the people of Edo.
He stated that Obi’s assertion that INEC’s conduct would lead to societal retribution was an unacceptable insult to the electorate, who had expressed a desire for the next governor to emerge from Edo Central.
The Labour Party spokesperson further revealed that Akpata lost not only to the APC but also to the PDP at his polling unit, with the APC securing 19 votes, PDP 41 votes, and Labour Party just 32 votes.
Arabambi emphasized that Akpata’s poor performance, where he garnered a mere 22,763 votes compared to APC’s 291,667 votes and PDP’s 247,274 votes, was a direct result of the division in Edo South.
Arabambi criticized Akpata for alleging that the election was rigged and for accusing others of vote-buying, pointing out that Akpata himself had allegedly paid $1,000 to Labour Party delegates during the primaries to secure his ticket.
“It’s unfortunate that those with more money were able to outbid him in the general election. Now, why is he complaining?” Arabambi remarked.
The Labour Party concluded by calling on Edo citizens to support the newly elected Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo, and urged Peter Obi to apologize to the party’s National Chairman, Julius Abure, and National Secretary, Farouk Umar Ibrahim, for causing division within the party.
Arabambi asserted that Peter Obi’s political career as a man of integrity is now over, and called for his resignation from the party.
