The candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the September 21 governorship election in Edo State, Olumide Akpata, has submitted that what transpired last Saturday in the state could not be described as an election.
Akpata, who came a distant third in the results declared by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), said he is not laying claim to have won the election but the votes of the electorates were bought off by the leading political parties.
He alleged that a large number of voters, including members of the Labour Party, only came out on Saturday and sold their votes to the highest bidder.
According to him, both the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) were involved in massive vote buying during the Edo governorship polls.
OsunDailyNG reports Akpata made the submission on Wednesday during an interview appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today.
“I am not saying that we won the election. I am saying there was no election, there was a transaction. It is very difficult to say who would have won or lost.
“300,000 votes by our estimation were bought by the two parties actively participating in that bazaar. That is enough to swing any election.
“Some stayed at home but a large number (of voters) came out and sold their votes. What happened was a tragedy. Members of my party sold their votes,” the LP candidate said.
