The Labor Party in Edo State has responded to allegations of unpreparedness made by Olumide Akpata, a gubernatorial aspirant for the 2024 Edo election. The party’s Publicity Secretary, Sam Uroupa, refuted the claims and highlighted the party’s adherence to transparency and integrity in the election process.
Addressing concerns raised in a letter written to the Independent Electoral Commission (INEC) by Akpata, the party emphasized that it had duly communicated the venues for the 192 ward congress and primaries. The statement clarified that the information about the congress venues was explicitly outlined in the guidelines and shared with INEC.
The party dismissed Akpata’s assertion about the lack of transparency in organizing stakeholders’ meetings, stating that it had been actively organizing such meetings to inform stakeholders about the election process.
Furthermore, the party explained that a screening committee had been established to evaluate delegates and that the screening report was publicly available in various Local Government Areas (LGAs) and wards.
The secretary also refuted claims of a mass withdrawal of aspirants from the party, stating that those who withdrew their ambitions were not officially recognized as Labor Party aspirants. He clarified that genuine aspirants were individuals who had completed the purchase of both the expression of interest and nomination forms.
In conclusion, the Labor Party in Edo State disputed the allegations made by Akpata, emphasizing its commitment to transparency, fairness, and the democratic process in the upcoming gubernatorial primaries.
