By Emmanuel Nduka
Legal heavyweight and former Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) President, Olumide Akpata has emerged victorious in the Labour Party (LP) primary election for the September 2024 Edo State Governorship race.
Akpata, a renowned corporate lawyer and recipient of African Legal Icon Award at the first-ever African Heritage Concert & Awards (Afri-Heritage 23) in Kigali, Rwanda, garnered 316 votes at the keenly contested primary held at the Bishop Kelly Pastoral Centre in Benin City.
This triumph marks the culmination of months of dedicated campaigning and his formal declaration of interest in October 2023.
During his declaration speech, Akpata emphasized his deep passion for Edo State and his unwavering commitment to returning the power to the people.
A shining light among guber aspirants, Akpata pointed to the Labour Party’s focus on social justice and inclusivity as a key factor in his decision, stating, “The people have been taken out of the equation. Nobody cares about the people… The only party I find to be people-oriented and interested in lots of our people is the Labour Party.”
In preparation for this political pursuit, Akpata resigned from his position as senior partner at the prestigious law firm Templars in August 2023.
This move ensured compliance with the firm’s governance protocols and allowed him to fully devote himself to his ambition of contributing to national development through active participation in the political process.
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Joining the Labour Party that same month, Akpata expressed his desire to be part of the solution rather than simply lamenting the nation’s challenges.
“This was a major step for me and not one that I took lightly… I simply got tired of complaining about Nigeria every day and decided to take the plunge and try to be part of the solution,” he said.
With his decisive victory in the LP primaries, Akpata now prepares to embark on a crucial campaign, aiming to translate his vision for Edo State into reality come September’s election.
His win undoubtedly adds an intriguing dimension to the Edo gubernatorial race, and all eyes will be on the dynamic lawyer as he navigates the political landscape in the months to come.
