Olumide Akpata, 2024 Edo LP Governorship Candidate, Defects to ADC
Benin City, Edo State — Barrister Olumide Akpata, the 2024 Labour Party (LP) governorship candidate for Edo State, officially defected to the African Democratic Congress (ADC) on Tuesday. The defection, a significant political realignment ahead of the state election, was formalized at an event in Benin City attended by prominent party leaders and former public office holders.
Akpata was formally inducted into the ADC by Mr. Peter Obi, the LP’s 2023 presidential candidate; Chief John Odigie Oyegun, former national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and former Edo State governor; Professor Oserhiemen Osunbor, a former Edo governor; Roland Owie, a former Senate chief whip; and Kennedy Odion, the Edo State ADC chairman, among others.
Speaking after receiving his party registration card, Akpata framed the move as a mission to contribute to national renewal. “A new Nigeria is possible if the people vote wisely, for the right candidate and political party,” he stated. He explained that his decision, along with his former running mate Yusuf Asama Kadiri and members of the Obidience movement in Edo, was intended to “add value” to the ADC. “The Labour Party is fully represented here today. We have come to add value to the African Democratic Congress,” he added, expressing gratitude for the reception.
Chief Oyegun, a national ADC leader, described the defection as a boost to the party’s profile. “Our stock is growing every day, not just in numbers, but in quality,” he said. “You can’t have it better than having a man like Olu Akpata and this man who has lit fire in this country, Mr. Peter Obi.” Oyegun noted that Akpata had initially been politically indifferent but was now convinced of the need to “save” the nation.
Kennedy Odion, Edo ADC chairman, praised Akpata as a leader who understood the country’s challenges and the path to economic recovery. Mr. Obi, in his remarks, reaffirmed the ADC’s commitment to a “new Nigeria,” vowing that internal opposition would not deter the party. He contrasted Nigeria’s declining economic metrics with Bangladesh’s growth trajectory, arguing that Nigeria must shift from consumption to productive investment.
“We must build a country that works for everybody,” Obi said. “It is not working for everybody today.” He urged supporters to fight for a future where merit, not connections, determines success.
The defection of a major opposition candidate from the LP to the ADC underscores the fluidity of the political landscape in Edo State and signals the ADC’s attempt to consolidate a broader coalition under the “new Nigeria” narrative ahead of the 2024 elections. The event highlights Peter Obi’s enduring influence as a political mobilizer and the ADC’s strategic positioning as an alternative platform for disaffected politicians and voters.
