Akpata flags off campaign, pays homage to Oba of Benin

The Labour Party governorship candidate in Edo State, Olumide Akpata, has said his party is strong and vibrant to wrest power from the ruling Peoples Democratic Party in the state.

Akpata, who stated this at the opening of his campaign secretariat on Saturday evening in Benin, said he would deliver the dividends of democracy to the 18 local governments in the state if elected in the  September 21 governorship poll.

The LP candidate said his visit to the palace of the Oba of Benin, Ewuare II, was to inform the Oba of his ambition and the commencement of his campaign.

Akpata said: “The LP is strong and vibrant to wrest power and deliver the dividends of democracy to the 18 local government areas of the state.

“We are ready to go to every part of the state to sell our manifesto to the people and let them know that we have the capacity to develop the state.

“It will be wrong to start the campaign without visiting the palace and letting the Oba know of my intention.”

Also speaking, the senator representing Edo Central in the National Assembly, Neda Imaseun, said Akpata had the wherewithal to govern the state going by his track record.

Imaseun, who cut the tape to inaugurate the LP campaign secretariat, urged party faithful, supporters and Edo people to vote for Akpata, who, he said, would take the state to an enviable height.

“Our party’s candidate has the wherewithal to govern the state going by his track record. Akpata’s action over the months has shown that he is ready for the job and I believe the electorate should give it to him.

“I am sure he would take the state to an enviable height that everyone will be proud of,” he added.

Earlier the same day, the party’s candidate in the 2023 presidential election, Peter Obi, went on a road show to introduce Akpata to the electorate, while also leading a party delegation to the Obas palace to seek his blessing.