Amid swirling rumors and speculations, the 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Peter Obi, has convened with the LP’s gubernatorial candidate in Edo State, Olumide Akpata.
The meeting, which took place on Thursday evening, was characterized by Obi as “productive and fruitful,” as per a tweet from the former Anambra governor.
In his tweet, Obi extended his well wishes to Akpata in his bid to succeed Godwin Obaseki as the next governor of Edo State, emphasizing their unified efforts to advance the vision of a “New Nigeria.”
Obi stated via his official X handle, “Yesterday, I met with my dear younger brother and gubernatorial candidate of the Labour Party in Edo State, @OlumideAkpata, and had very productive and fruitful discussions. I wish him well, as we remain united in our efforts to build the New Nigeria.”
The encounter between Obi and Akpata emerges amidst murmurings suggesting a potential rift between the former Anambra governor and the LP gubernatorial hopeful.
Notably, a vocal member of the Obidient Movement in Edo State, Lucky Obiyan, recently announced the group’s decision not to endorse Akpata in the upcoming election.
Obiyan articulated concerns over perceived discrepancies within the LP’s framework, asserting that the Obidient Movement disassociates itself from the LP and its candidate, Olumide Akpata.
His words: “The Labour Party in Edo State has so far demonstrated every contradictory arrangement to what Obidients believe in, and that is why we have to urgently inform the people that they shouldn’t be misled.
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“We have come to tell the Edo people and the Edos in diaspora that the Obidient Movement washes its hands like Pontius Pilate in the Bible clean from Edo Labour Party and its candidate Olumide Akpata!”
Furthermore, the group convened to release a statement reaffirming their allegiance to Peter Obi while condemning the LP’s failure to establish itself as a credible alternative to the major political parties, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC), during the Edo Primaries.
