The 2024 governorship candidate of the Labour Party in Edo State, Olumide Akpata, on Tuesday formally defected to the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
Akpata was received into the party at an event in Benin City attended by Peter Obi, the 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party; John Odigie-Oyegun, former governor of Edo State; Professor Oserhiemen Osunbor, former governor of the state; Roland Owie, former Chief Whip of the Senate; and Kennedy Odion, the Edo State chairman of the party, among other party stakeholders.
Speaking shortly after receiving his party registration card, Akpata said a new Nigeria is possible if citizens vote wisely for credible candidates and political platforms.
He explained that his defection, alongside his running mate in the 2024 governorship election, Yusuf Asama Kadiri, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, as well as members of the Obidient Movement in the state, was aimed at strengthening the party.
According to him, “The Labour Party is fully represented here today. We don’t have time but our zones are represented here today to show that we have come to add value to the African Democratic Congress.
“I just want to say we are grateful. Those of us who have come from Labour Party, we are grateful for the warm reception. We thank our leaders.
“We thank Mr Peter Obi, our leader, who brought us here. We thank Chief Oyegun, our father, who on behalf of the ADC caucus have received us here today. We are grateful to you all”, he said.
In his remarks, John Odigie-Oyegun said the party was expanding both in numbers and influence.
“Our stock is growing every day, not just in numbers, but fortunately in quality. You can’t have it better than having a man like Olu Akpata and this man who has lit fire in this country, Mr Peter Obi.
“Having Barrister Olumide Akpata in our party shows the strength of the ADC. When I spoke to our new member, the newest member, Olumide, a few months ago, he wasn’t totally finished with politics. He was indifferent to politics.
“He wasn’t ready to listen to any future I was going to paint. But over the months, even he has said that this is a nation that needs to be saved. And so, on his own, without my going back, of course influenced by a lot of other factors, today we have registered one of the most illustrious sons of this country and a proud citizen of Edo State,” he added.
Earlier, Kennedy Odion described Akpata as a leader who understands governance and the direction the country should take to overcome its current economic challenges.
On his part, Peter Obi assured supporters that the ADC remains committed to building a new Nigeria despite political opposition.
“Let me assure all of us here, we are committed to a new Nigeria. They might do everything possible to stop us, but I assure you our commitment is total.
“We must build a country that works for everybody. It is not working for everybody today. We must build a country where nobody can be somebody without knowing anybody. It must happen here, and that is what is important.
“I was just telling somebody as I was coming to Edo this morning and somebody said to me Nigeria is number three in World Bank debt, and other people are number one. So, what do you have to say about it, Peter?
“So I decided to reply to the person by tweet. Yes, Nigeria owes $18.7 billion, and another country called Bangladesh is owing $23 billion to the same institution. But I said to the person, I will reply you by comparison.
“In 2015, 10 years ago, Bangladesh’s GDP was $195 billion with a per capita of $1,235. today, the same country’s GDP is $490 billion with a per capita of $2,700.
“So, both their GDP and their per capita have doubled. Nigeria, in 2015, had a GDP of almost $493,000 with a per capita of $2,700. today, Nigeria’s GDP is under $200. Its per capita is under $1,000.
“The rest is your guess. You can go and see how many people they pulled out of poverty. So, one person borrowed, invested it in the productive sector, and grew.
“Another person borrowed, invested in consumption, and collapsed. That’s why I say we must move the country from consumption to production to make a new Nigeria that is possible.
“Let us go out and fight for that new Nigeria. It will not be easy. They are not going to allow us easily. They will do everything to deter us, but we must do the future for ourselves, a future for our children, the young ones”, he stated.
