The Labour Party (LP) candidate in the recently concluded Edo State governorship election, Olumide Akpata, on Tuesday, accused governors from the APC and PDP of dipping into state treasuries to finance the governorship election in the state.

Akpata described the election as “a show of shame,” adding that what transpired on September 21, 2024, was not an election but a transaction involving widespread vote buying and selling by both the APC and PDP.

He deplored the exercise, noting that it was marred by voter intimidation and the falsification of results.

Briefing newsmen in Benin on the election’s outcome, Akpata said, “We reserve our strongest condemnation for those who engaged in vote buying: the APC and PDP. Their actions have directly contributed to the destruction of our state’s economy over the past 25 years, creating the environment for this democratic sacrilege to thrive.”

“This election has laid bare the stark reality that our political landscape is dominated not by ideologies or the people’s will, but by those with the deepest pockets and the most extensive networks of influence.

“I hold no sympathy for the PDP, who now cry foul after being outmanoeuvred in this macabre game of thrones. They willingly participated in the bidding war with the APC, fully aware of the rules from the outset. Their lamentations ring hollow in the face of their own complicity in this democratic travesty.”

Akpata added that the actions of the APC and the governor-elect had undermined the democratic process, betrayed the trust of the people they sought to lead, and eroded faith in democratic institutions.

“This is the legacy that will overshadow their ill-gotten mandate. Their ‘grab, snatch, and run’ playbook is akin to riding on the back of a tiger and will ultimately be the source of their undoing,” he said.

He pledged to remain committed to serving the people despite the election’s outcome, saying, “We remain steadfast in our commitment to building a democracy that works for all, not just the highest bidder.

“We continue to envision an Edo State, and a Nigeria, where ideas triumph over Naira, where the collective will of the people shapes our future, and where every citizen feels the impact of good governance in their daily lives.

“To achieve this vision, we must push for comprehensive electoral reform. We need to leverage technology to create foolproof systems that make vote buying not just difficult but impossible. We must also address the root causes that make our people susceptible to vote-selling.

“This means creating economic opportunities, improving education, and building a society where citizens do not feel compelled to mortgage their future for immediate gains.”