20th September, 2024
By Jethro Ibileke
Candidate of Labour Party (LP), in the Edo governorship election, Olumide Akpata, has debunked the rumour of his alleged withdrawal from the race
A rumour that the LP candidate withdrew from the race for the candidate of the candidate of the PDP, Asue Ighodalo, had spread round the state.
But Akpata, while addressing journalists on Friday, announced that he remained steadfast in the race.
He said said he had been inundated with a flood of calls and messages from friends and supporters over his alleged withdrawal from the race, which he said compelled him to debunk the “wicked rumours”.
He said: “This falsehood is illustrative of the evil machinations of those who have held our state captive for a quarter of a century and demonstrates the shallowness that has characterised their governance style
“Let me be unequivocally clear: I am still in this race.
“The notion that I would step down on the eve of the election, after the overwhelming support received from the good people of our State, borders on delusion.
“This pathetic attempt at deception is so amateurish that the “Oluwole” forgers could not even get the date right, leaving “July 29, 2024″ on their fraudulent document.
“Such incompetence would be laughable if it were not so sinister in its intent.
“To the perpetrators of this fraud: your desperate tactics only expose your fear. You claim |am a mere “spoiler,” yet you resort to such underhanded methods? Your actions betray your panic at our unstoppable momentum.
“I call upon all journalists and media outlets to take particular note of this situation. It is imperative that you report the facts accurately and diligently verity information before publication. The integrity of our democratic process depends on responsible journalism, especially in these crucial hours before the election.
“To the architects of this forgery: I will not rest until I uncover every individual involved in this criminal act. You will face the full force of the law, and justice will be served.
“To our steadfast supporters and all citizens yearning for change: stand firm. Do not be swayed by these desperate ploys. Our resolve is unshakeable, our cause is just, and our vision for our great State remains clear and unwavering.”
Akpata urged all the people of the State to disregard what he described as the “last kick of a dying horse.”
“Please go out and exercise your franchise tomorrow. Together, we will overcome these underhanded tactics and usher in the transformative leadership our State so richly deserves,”he added.
