Former Labour Party governorship candidate in Edo State, Olumide Akpata, has dismissed speculation linking him to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), describing the rumours as the work of political detractors.
Akpata, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria and immediate past president of the Nigerian Bar Association, emerged as one of the most prominent new figures in partisan politics when he joined the Labour Party in 2023.
His candidacy for the September 2024 Edo governorship election attracted significant attention, as he represented the Labour Party’s efforts to build on its growing national profile following the 2023 general elections—where former presidential candidate Peter Obi expanded the party’s reach.
Although Akpata ultimately lost to the APC’s Monday Okpebholo, his campaign was widely credited with energizing young voters and strengthening the Labour Party’s presence in Edo politics.
In a statement released on Tuesday, Akpata firmly denied claims that he had abandoned the Labour Party for the APC.
“In the past 24 hours, a malicious, mischievous, and utterly false rumour has been spread on social media—unfortunately amplified by mischief-makers—alleging that I have left the Labour Party, the platform on which I contested the 2024 Edo State gubernatorial election, to join the All Progressives Congress,” he said.
Describing the reports as both “false” and “laughable,” Akpata emphasized that he has never considered switching political allegiance.
“This is not only false but laughable. I state unequivocally that I have neither contemplated, discussed, nor effected any defection to the APC. For the avoidance of doubt, I have no intention of ever joining the APC,” he declared.
Akpata’s rebuttal comes amid a shifting political landscape in Edo State following the 2024 governorship election.
With the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) consolidating its hold on the state, speculation about defections and new political alignments is mounting ahead of the 2027 general elections.
