Edo Elections: Benin City Shuts Down as Peter Obi Leads Massive Rally for Akpata and Labour Party

The governorship campaign of the candidate of the Labour Party (LP) for the September 21 election in the state, Olumide Osaigbovo Akpata, was on Tuesday re-invigorated with the presence of Peter Obi, LP’s presidential candidate in the 2023 general elections giving it some good vibes ahead of the September 19 deadline for campaigns.

Most parts of the Benin metropolis were literally in lockdown as the campaign train, led by Obi, moved from one area to another to galvanise support for the party and Akpata. Areas like the New Benin Market, Mission Road, Akpakpava, among others, particularly dominated by traders and people from the South-East, as well as other fans of Obi, witnessed a surge of enthusiastic supporters and party faithful.

As early as 9 am, supporters of the LP had started to gather at the state Secretariat of the Labour Party along Sokponba Road. Not even the early morning rains deterred the supporters trooping out in their large numbers to welcome Obi whose popularity has refused to wane despite not achieving his presidential ambition.

Some of his fans and admirers however still insisted he was shortchanged during the last election.

One of the supporters, Peter Okara, hoped that “If INEC is free and fair this time, what they robbed us in 2023 in Obi’s election, we will gain in Olumide Akpata. We are ready to challenge the other parties. The people of Edo State are tired of the APC and the PDP; they have been in government in this state since 1999 but look at where they have brought Edo to”.

Addressing the mammoth crowd at Oba Market, Obi said “You know things have become very bad under this government. There is no light, no water, no security, no fuel. Everything in this country has scattered. What we want in Nigeria is change. We want to put food on our table; we want the government to tell us what they are using the money from fuel subsidies for, and we want a better Edo.

“On the 21st, you know what you will do, ensure you vote for ‘mama, papa, pikin’ so that we can start to repair Nigeria from Edo State. We need to change the people that said they are bringing change. You must vote for Olimide Akpata who is ‘your guy’.”

Obi urged eligible voters in the state to come out en masse to cast their votes for the party. He promised that the party’s governorship candidate would fix the state and move it forward. He also assured that the LP would reduce the current hardship being felt in the state.

Akpata, former president of the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, in his address, said “This is the time for the election. Our father is here; we need to let them know that we have a father who is Peter Obi. He asked me if you people will vote, and I said we are one of the best voters in this country. Who is your guy? I am your guy, and Edo will be okay. On the 21st of September, we will sack those occupying government house that have misused our resources.”