Olumide Akpata looks to cause major disruptions in race for Edo governorship

A frontline aspirant for the 2024 governorship of Edo State on the platform of the Labour Party (LP), Barrister Olumide Akpata, is looking to cause major disruptions in the power equations and permutations in the race for the State’s plum position.

Recall how he caused massive positive disruptions in 2020 when he contested the presidency of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) and defeated two Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SANs) in what was fast becoming a tradition of learned silks locking down the NBA presidency.

THE CONCLAVE reports that on July 30, 2020, Akpata was elected as the president of the NBA after acquiring a total of 9,891 votes of the total 18,256 ballots cast, defeating his closest rival, Babatunde Ajibade (SAN) who polled 4,328 votes and Dele Adeshina (SAN) who polled 3,982 votes.

Akpata, as gathered, is excited and hopeful that he has the gravitas to repeat what he did in the NBA presidency in Edo governorship where he is staking his reputation in a contest in which many political gladiators who are household names in the state have thrown their hats in the ring across the three major political parties, to wit: All Progressives Congress (APC), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and LP.

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In a recent brief WhatsApp chat with THE CONCLAVE Board of Editors, after Akpata had furnished the platform with a correct position on a report by “ALUOKAS WRITERS” in which questions were raised “about the trustworthiness of Akpata and his suitability for leadership,” his campaign organization had provided answers to the questions.

The crux of the write-up, which the Olumide Akpata Campaign Office dismissed as uninformed was entitled: “Questionable Integrity: Akpata’s leadership candidacy under scrutiny,” to which Barrister Lawrence Edeghonghon Erewele issued a riposte on November 20, 2023 on behalf of the Olumide Akpata Campaign Organisation.

Entitled: “Setting the Record Straight: A Response to the Uninformed Tirade by ALUOKAS WRITERS”, Erewele said: “The above article that accuses Mr Olumide Osaigbovo Akpata of stealing the catchphrase: “Who’s is your guy” is a baseless and malicious attack on his (Akpata’s) reputation. The truth is that the catchphrase was actually stolen from Mr Akpata.”

He stated: ‘As can be verified, the “Who’s Your Guy?” catchphrase is a registered trademark owned by the musician, Oludipe Oluwasanmi David, also known as Spyro. Mr Olumide Akpata, as a respected commercial lawyer, demonstrated integrity by conducting due diligence. He sought legal advice and approached Spyro and his management to obtain permission to use the catchphrase and song in his campaign, showcasing a commitment to respecting intellectual property rights.”

THE CONCLAVE further reports that Olumide Akpata’s entry into the governorship race on the LP platform has sent jitters down the spines of other aspirants jostling for the party’s governorship ticket.

Reminded, while THE CONCLAVE was responding to his December 4, 2023 post of his rejoinder to the accusatorial article by “ALUOKAS WRITERS”, of how he caused some positive disruptions to what was fast becoming a tradition of the NBA presidency being the exclusive preserve of SANs, and if he was up to some positive disruptions in the race for Edo guber, Akpata had responded: “Major disruptions, Sir!”

THE CONCLAVE gathered that Akpata has begun to cause positive disruptions in the LP in his determined bid to clinch the guber ticket of the party.

The frontline aspirant, as learnt, had singlehanded, funded the party’s candidates in the recent Local Government elections across the state even when he knew that the LP did not have a chance in the election conducted by the State Independent Electoral Commission (SIEC) under the control of the State Governor, Godwin Obaseki.

There were reports that he recently assisted the party in the state with twenty-one vehicles. He is also said to have taken upon himself certain other responsibilities to take off financial and other pressures away from the LP in the state.

THE CONCLAVE reports that these are processes that are bolstering his association with and approbation by party members and leaders. Akpata is enjoying growing support of the members and leaders of the LP in Edo State to the discomfort of other aspirants who appear not to appreciate the magnitude of the governorship battle ahead.

Analysts argue that Akpata’s generous support for the LP in Edo State may just combine with other realpolitik prelude to the governorship primary election of the party to swing the party ticket to him, preparatory to his participation as the standard bearer of the party in the scheduled September 21, 2024 governorship election where he would be opportune to cause further major disruptions if possible.