Labour Party Blames Peter Obi and Olumide Akpata for Edo Election Defeat: Inside the Crisis
The recent governorship election in Edo State has sparked significant fallout within the Labour Party (LP). The party, led by Julius Abure, has publicly blamed its candidate, Barr. Olumide Akpata, and the 2023 presidential candidate, Mr. Peter Obi, for the party’s disappointing performance. The party’s abysmal defeat came as the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Senator Monday Okpebholo, emerged victorious in an election that LP described as one of the fairest and most peaceful in the nation’s history.
Despite the overwhelming loss, Labour Party congratulated the APC and Okpebholo for their victory. However, behind the congratulatory statements lie a deeper schism within the LP, revealing tensions among its leadership and key figures, such as Peter Obi and Olumide Akpata.
Why the Labour Party Blamed Peter Obi and Olumide Akpata
According to LP’s Publicity Secretary, Abayomi Arabambi, Peter Obi and Alex Otti, the governor of Abia State, contributed to the party’s internal discord, which weakened their structure in Edo State. Arabambi claimed that Obi’s high-handedness, power-grabbing tendencies, and brash approach to handling party affairs sowed the seeds of failure in the Edo election.
Arabambi pointed out that Obi’s betrayal of the National Working Committee (NWC) under Julius Abure and Secretary Alhaji Farouk Umar Ibrahim eroded the internal unity of the Labour Party. This divide led to a lack of coordination, undermining the party’s chances of success. Specifically, the party accused Obi and Otti of attempting to take over the party leadership illegally, using INEC’s claim that Abure’s tenure had expired as a tool for this move.
Peter Obi had earlier praised INEC for its stance on Abure’s tenure, leading to an internal crisis within the party. The same INEC, which Obi had supported during their internal dispute, was later accused by him of unfairness in the Edo election. Obi’s criticism came after LP’s defeat, claiming that the electoral body had mishandled the election and that those responsible would eventually face consequences.
Olumide Akpata’s Role in the Defeat
While Peter Obi’s actions are seen as contributing to the defeat, the party also laid significant blame on its candidate, Olumide Akpata. Arabambi noted that Akpata’s origin from Oredo Local Government, which shares the same senatorial district as outgoing Governor Godwin Obaseki, alienated voters from other regions in Edo State, particularly Edo Central.
According to Arabambi, Edo voters sought equity, wanting the next governor to come from Edo Central Senatorial District, which explains why both APC and PDP fielded candidates from that area. Labour Party’s decision to pick a candidate from the same zone as Obaseki was seen as a strategic blunder, further weakening their appeal to voters.
Arabambi also criticized Akpata for his conduct during the LP primary, alleging that he bought votes to secure the party’s nomination. He claimed that Akpata “bought over the party structure,” provided vehicles, and used the police to intimidate opponents during the primaries, yet complained about vote-buying in the main election.
Social Media Reactions
The fallout from the Edo election and Labour Party’s internal crisis sparked reactions across social media, both in Nigeria and abroad. Here are some notable reactions:
- @OlusegunWrites (Nigeria) on X: “Labour Party is blaming Peter Obi? This sounds like misplaced anger. What happened in Edo was a failure of strategy.”
- @ChiomaSpeaks (Nigeria) on Instagram: “Akpata buying the primary ticket and now complaining about vote-buying? Hypocrisy is real.”
- @Moses_Obiora (Nigeria) on X: “Edo people wanted fairness, which Obi and LP missed. The blame game won’t help.”
- @SophieJk (UK) on X: “Nigerian politics is complex but blaming Peter Obi feels like a scapegoating exercise.”
- @Lekan_Writes (Nigeria) on Threads: “Labour Party needs to sort its house first before pointing fingers. Obi did his best in the presidential race, but the party is still in chaos.”
- @Kemi_Ade (Nigeria) on X: “The problem is not Peter Obi, it’s the internal corruption within LP.”
- @James_Can (US) on Instagram: “Interesting to see LP self-destruct so soon. Nigeria needs stronger parties for real democracy.”
- @Fatimah_Olanrewaju (Nigeria) on Facebook: “They need to fix their party structure before 2027 if they hope to be a force.”
- @Tobi_Manuel (Canada) on X: “Labour Party’s strategy in Edo was poor. You can’t blame just Obi for that.”
- @Rashida_B (Nigeria) on Instagram: “A party that still hasn’t figured out leadership roles is doomed to fail.”
- @VictorUKing (UK) on Threads: “From the outside, Labour Party seems like it needs a reset. Peter Obi should not be blamed for everything.”
- @FolaAwo (Nigeria) on Facebook: “It’s sad that the party is imploding when it could have been a strong alternative.”
- @Jay_Zee (Nigeria) on Instagram: “What happened to Labour Party in Edo is what happens when internal politics gets dirty.”
Conclusion
The Labour Party’s post-election crisis in Edo State showcases a growing divide within the party’s leadership. Blaming Peter Obi and Olumide Akpata for the loss has revealed the internal fractures that continue to plague the party. With accusations of deceit, power-grabbing, and strategic miscalculations, LP is facing a critical moment in its bid to remain relevant on Nigeria’s political stage.
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