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*Urges Comprehensive Electoral Reform To Prevent Vote-Buying And Safeguard Democracy
Olumide Akpata, the Labour Party candidate in the recently concluded Edo State gubernatorial election, has issued a strong statement expressing concern over the integrity of the electoral process and the outcome of the election. In his statement titled “Unbowed, Unbent, and Unbroken,” Akpata highlighted the issues of vote-buying, low voter turnout, and the falsification of results.
Throughout this electoral process, he has consistently emphasized that he is not one to complain idly, and his approach has always been to seek solutions, which remains his intention now. However, he believes that we cannot address our challenges without first acknowledging them frankly and thoroughly.
While preparing for this election, Akpata and his party harbored grave concerns about the integrity of the process, anticipating that powerful forces would attempt to skew the outcome in their favor, regardless of the will of the people. Regrettably, these fears have materialized, but Akpata also confronts an uncomfortable truth: the outcome was enabled not just by those who sought to manipulate the process but also by the actions—and inactions—of a significant portion of the electorate.
Although the election was largely free from historical forms of election-day malpractice such as ballot box snatching and stuffing, it was nevertheless marred by voter intimidation and the falsification of results. More insidiously, the election witnessed one of the lowest voter turnouts in recent years, a testament to the apathy that has gripped the populace. This disengagement ultimately contributed to the worst-case scenario now faced.
Akpata commended the courage and commitment of those who defied the odds, came out to vote, and stayed to ensure their votes were counted, calling them the true heroes of this election. However, a troubling theme emerged as the day unfolded: a widespread vote-buying scheme by both the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP). As attested to by YIAGA Africa, a leading civil society organization and domestic observer group, the sacred electoral process was reduced to a commodities market—a bidding war for votes. This practice, no less damaging than outright ballot stuffing, has effectively disenfranchised the people of Edo State.
Akpata is clear that what transpired on 21 September 2024 was not an election but a transaction, enabled by those who chose to stay away, making it easier for the two dominant parties to afford a significant majority of the few votes on offer, and by those who came out and willingly sold their votes. To those who sold their votes, Akpata extends understanding, not condemnation, acknowledging the crushing economic hardships that many face daily—hardships that make the immediate relief of vote-selling seem like a lifeline. Yet, he emphasizes that this short-term gain comes at an immense long-term cost and implores them to reflect deeply on the consequences of their actions, recognizing that their vote is the legacy they bequeath to future generations.
Akpata notes that, unwittingly, a collegiate system of government has been instituted, comprising godfathers, surrogate Governors, and other forces within and outside the State who hope to puppeteer the Governor-elect. The implications of this for Edo State’s development are dire, with the prospect of continued underdevelopment, misallocation of resources, and governance that serves the interests of a few rather than the needs of the many. These consequences must now be lived with for years to come.
The Labour Party campaign steadfastly refused to engage in this cash-and-carry approach, not budgeting to compete with the two political parties whose Governors perhaps may have dipped their hands into their States’ treasuries to provide the war chest for this show of shame. Even if they had the resources, Akpata and his party lacked the inclination to participate in such a perversion of democracy. Nothing illustrates this principle more clearly than the loss of Akpata’s own polling unit, where he could have easily mustered enough cash to secure enough votes to win, but chose not to.
Instead, Akpata and his party remained faithful to their belief in the sanctity of the ballot and the inalienable right of the people to freely choose their leaders without coercion or inducement. This was not political naivety, but a testament to their unwavering commitment to true democracy—where a vote’s value lies in its power to effect change, not in the amount of Naira it can command.
Akpata reserves the strongest condemnation for those who engaged in vote-buying: the APC and PDP, whose actions have directly contributed to the destruction of the State’s economy over the past 25 years, creating the enabling environment for this democratic sacrilege to thrive. This election has laid bare the stark reality that the political landscape is dominated not by ideologies or the people’s will, but by those with the deepest pockets and the most extensive networks of influence.
Akpata holds no sympathy for the PDP, who now cry foul after being outmaneuvered in this macabre game of thrones, having willingly participated in the bidding war with the APC, fully aware of the rules from the outset. Their lamentations ring hollow in the face of their own complicity in this democratic travesty. As for the APC and the Governor-elect, their actions have undermined the democratic process, betrayed the trust of the very people they seek to lead, and eroded faith in democratic institutions. This is the legacy that will overshadow their ill-gotten mandate, and their “grab, snatch, and run” playbook is akin to riding on the back of a tiger—it will ultimately be the source of their undoing.
As Edo State stands at this critical juncture in its history, Akpata poses the question: Is this the democracy envisioned? Is this the legacy to be left for the children? A system where the size of one’s purse determines the weight of one’s voice is not a democracy but a plutocracy in disguise.
Akpata and his party remain steadfast in their commitment to building a democracy that works for all, not just the highest bidder. They continue to envision an Edo State, and a Nigeria, where ideas triumph over Naira, where the collective will of the people shapes the future, and where every citizen feels the impact of good governance in their daily lives.
To achieve this vision, Akpata advocates for comprehensive electoral reform, leveraging technology to create foolproof systems that make vote-buying not just difficult, but impossible. He also stresses the need to address the root causes that make people susceptible to vote-selling, which means creating economic opportunities, improving education, and building a society where citizens do not feel compelled to mortgage their future for immediate gains.
Akpata urges all stakeholders—INEC, security agencies, civil society organisations, and every concerned citizen—to seize this pivotal moment and interrogate these irregularities, not merely as a post-mortem of this election, but as a critical step in safeguarding democracy.
To the supporters and all those who share the belief in the promise of a better Edo State, Akpata encourages them not to lose heart. The path to true democracy is often long and fraught with challenges, but it is a journey that must be undertaken together. The struggle for good governance, transparency, and accountability continues, and all must remain vigilant, engaged, and committed to the ideals that will truly move the State and the nation forward.
Akpata calls for this moment to serve not as a defeat, but as a rallying cry for all who believe in the promise of democracy. The road ahead may be challenging, but with unity, perseverance, and an unwavering commitment to principles, the Edo State, and Nigeria, of our dreams can and will be built. The power to shape the future lies not just in the ballot box, but in the daily commitment to the values of integrity, transparency, and public service.
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