Olumide Akpata, an aspirant for the Edo State governorship under the Labour Party (LP), has raised concerns about the party’s lack of readiness for its primary election. In a letter addressed to Mahmood Yakubu, the chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Akpata alleged that the party’s leadership is planning to manipulate the candidate selection process.
In the letter dated February 18, Akpata expressed his dismay regarding the lack of transparency and preparedness surrounding the LP’s planned primaries for the Edo State gubernatorial candidacy. He highlighted that the Electoral Act 2022 mandates political parties to conduct transparent primaries and urged INEC to intervene.
Akpata cited the mass withdrawal of aspirants from the race due to concerns about the undemocratic nature of the process. He emphasized that despite his attempts to seek accountability from the party leadership, his inquiries were met with disdain and attempts to silence him.
Akpata called on INEC to uphold due process and internal party democracy, warning of potential pre-election disputes and the strain it would place on the commission’s resources if the situation is not addressed promptly.
The allegations made by Akpata bring to light the challenges faced within political party processes and the importance of transparency and adherence to electoral laws. As the Edo State gubernatorial election draws near, the call for fair and transparent practices in candidate selection becomes increasingly significant.
