The Labour Party’s 2024 governorship candidate in Edo State, Olumide Akpata, on Tuesday officially defected to the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
Akpata was formally welcomed into the party at a ceremony in Benin City attended by Peter Obi, John Odigie Oyegun, Oserhiemen Osunbor, Roland Owie, Kenneth Odion, as well as the Edo State chairman of the ADC and other party leaders.
Speaking after receiving his ADC membership card, Akpata expressed confidence that a new Nigeria is achievable if citizens make informed choices by voting for credible candidates and the right political platforms.
He explained that his move to the ADC, alongside his 2024 governorship running mate, Yusuf Asama Kadiri, and members of the Obidient Movement in Edo State, was aimed at strengthening and adding value to the party.
According to him, the Labour Party family was fully represented at the event, with leaders from across the state’s zones present, underscoring their collective commitment to contributing meaningfully to the growth of 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, Chief John Odigie Oyegun, a national leader of the party posited that the stock of the party is growing daily not only in numbers but also in quality.
“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.