Edo Vanguard for Good Governance (EVGG) has issued a call to Olumide Akpata, the Labour Party (LP) governorship candidate, advising him to select a running mate with a reputable standing and widespread acceptability for the upcoming September election.
The group specifically recommended the party’s 2023 House of Representatives candidate in Akoko-Edo Federal Constituency, High Chief Marvelous Omobayo, as the ideal choice for the position. EVGG asserted that Omobayo’s election was manipulated as he was on the verge of securing victory.
In a joint statement signed by the group’s convener, Osaro Eboigbodin, and secretary, Donald Oikhena, Akpata’s emergence was likened to the impactful entry of Peter Obi in the 2023 election.
The statement highlighted Omobayo’s remarkable performance in the 2023 General elections, describing him as a political newcomer who defied barriers of ethnicity, religion, and language to redefine the political landscape in Akoko Edo Local Government Area (LGA). Despite not being officially declared the winner of the House of Representatives election, Omobayo’s influence and reputation continue to grow.
Omobayo is depicted as the most respected, loved, and admired politician in Akoko Edo and Edo North Senatorial District. The group praised his humility, brilliance, unyielding optimism, and robust energy, underscoring his unmatched contributions to the political history of Akoko Edo.
The statement emphasized Omobayo’s commitment to politics as a tool of service, highlighting his role as a celebrated businessman and the largest employer of labor in the LGA. The youth, women, elderly, traditional rulers, and elite are mentioned as supporters of Omobayo due to his benevolence, generosity, and impactful interventions in their lives.
EVGG highly recommended Omobayo to Olumide Akpata as a strategic choice for the position of Deputy Governor, noting that he would consolidate the Akoko Edo/Owan alliance and secure votes from Etsako due to his humility and drive. The group expressed trust in Omobayo’s ability to contribute significantly to the success of the Labour Party in the election.
