Edo Gubernatorial Race Witnesses Dual Candidacy Declaration

In a swift response within less than 24 hours of Barrister Olumide Akpata securing candidacy under the Julius Abure-led national leadership of the Labour Party for the September 21 Edo State governorship election, the opposing Alhaji Lamidi Apapa-led faction has introduced its own candidate for the impending electoral contest.

DNEWSINFO can confirm that Akpata clinched the party’s nomination in a gubernatorial primary officiated by Deputy Governor Engr Ikechukwu Emetu of Abia State on Friday in Benin City, securing victory with 316 votes, surpassing other contenders.

Contrarily, the Apapa-led faction officially submitted the names of its gubernatorial and deputy gubernatorial candidates to the National Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in a dated letter from February 22, 2024, circulating on various social media platforms, including the Labour Party’s WhatsApp group in Edo State. The missive, endorsed by Alhaji Lamidi Apapa as Acting National Chairman and Alhaji Saleh Lawan as Acting National Secretary, discloses Barrister Anderson Uwadiae Asemota as the gubernatorial candidate and Barrister Monday Ojore Mawah as the running mate.

According to Apapa, the selection of the gubernatorial candidate and his running mate transpired during a primary conducted in Benin City on February 22, 2024. When reached for confirmation, Apapa affirmed the authenticity of the letter, responding succinctly, “Yes, it is true. The letter is from us.”