By Abiola Olawale
The immediate past president of the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA), Barrister Olumide Akpata, on Friday, emerged as the governorship candidate of the Labour Party (LP).
Akpata was declared as the flagbearer of Labour Party by the Deputy Governor of Abia state who also doubles as the party’s Chairman of the Edo electoral committee, Ikechukwu Emetu.
The lawyer garnered a total of 316 votes to beat the other aspirants at the exercise which held at the Bishop Kelly Pastoral Centre, Airport Road in Benin City, Edo State capital on Friday.
Akpata in his acceptance speech, thanked his supporters and members of the party for their backing, promising to work for the good of the state if he wins the governorship election.
He also used the opportunity to pay tribute to a former governor of Ondo State and NBA president Arakunrin Rotimi Akeredolu who was buried today, Friday.
The New Diplomat reports that Akpata was a senior partner and the Head of the Corporate and Commercial Practice Group at Templars law firm in Nigeria until his resignation on 31 August 2023, to enable him to pursue partisan politics.
Akpata is now set to battle with Senator Monday Okpebholo of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Barrister Asue Ighodalo of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), among other parties in the forthcoming September 21, governorship election of Edo state.
