I won’t accept any position from Okpebholo, says Akpata

Olumide Akpata, who was candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the Edo governorship election, says he may challenge the outcome of the poll after his lawyers complete a review of the process.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared Monday Okpebholo, candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), as winner of the Edo governorship poll with 291,667 votes.

Akpata garnered 22,763 votes to secure third place, while Asue Ighodalo of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) polled 247,274 to finish second.

Speaking in an interview with Arise Television, the LP candidate said he will not accept any position from the incoming administration.

“I will not work with the government. I believe that one key feature of a vibrant democracy is the existence of a vibrant opposition,” Akpata said.

“So we will naturally play the role of the opposition, or at least one of the opposition parties — and we will take this role very seriously. The election has happened.

“So we have sent the results that we have to our lawyers. We will, of course, reserve our right to challenge the election if we find that necessary.

“But whatever the case may be, if it turns out that this government indeed emerges at the end of the day, we would play the role of an opposition; we will hold their feet to the fire, we will call them out when necessary.

“When you say work with the government (Okpebholo), you mean take position or accept positions in the government. That is absolutely out of the question.

“We will remain as a Labour Party, play our role as opposition, and ensure that we become part of the watchdogs of society, and ensure that whichever government is in place, they do right by the people.

“And that is the way democracy was designed. So that at the end of the day, there is consequence management. The people are held accountable. We will work to see that there is transparency in governance, and all of that stuff.

“We will not participate in political halloween and begin to jump over the fence because somebody has been said to have won an election. That will not happen.”