Fact-Check: Olumide Akpata Debunks Claim of Withdrawing from Edo State Governorship Race

BY: Mustapha Lawal

Claim:

Olumide Akpata, Labour Party candidate for the Edo State governorship election, has stepped down from the race.

Verdict:

False! Olumide Akpata and the Labour Party have publicly debunked the claim, stating categorically that he has not withdrawn from the race and remains fully committed to contesting the Edo State governorship election under the Labour Party.

Full Text:

As the 2024 Edo State governorship election draws near, several social media posts have claimed with the image of a letter that Olumide Akpata, the Labour Party’s candidate, has withdrawn from the race. The reports quickly gained traction across various platforms, leading to widespread speculation and confusion among supporters and political analysts alike. 

Given Akpata’s prominence as a former Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) president and his strong appeal to the electorate, such a decision would have serious implications for the dynamics of the race.

Photo Credit: Image of the Viral Letter Purpoting Olumide Akpata’s withdrawal from the race || FCA

The viral claims suggested that Akpata had stepped down in favour of another candidate, causing a stir, particularly within Labour Party circles and among those who had previously rallied behind his candidacy.

Verification:

To verify this claim, FactCheckAfrica examined multiple credible news sources and reviewed Akpata’s public statements and contents. We found that the governorship candidate, Oluumide Akpata posted a video of himself on his official X (formerly Twitter) account with some members of the press, he stated that the claim of his withdrawal was entirely false. 

In the caption of the video, Akpata said: “Let me be unequivocally clear: I AM STILL IN THE RACE. The notion that I would step down on the eve of the election, after the overwhelming support received from the good people of our State, borders on delusion.”

I remain fully committed to this race and the people of Edo State who have trusted me to offer a fresh perspective and lead the state forward.

Also, the Edo State Chairman of the Labour Party, Kelly Ogbaloi, described the letter as fake when contacted by DAILY POST. According to him, “We cannot step down at this time. No, that’s not happening. The letter was forged and we have debunked it already. LP candidates cannot at this time issue a letter that he is withdrawing from the race. We cannot resign. Akpata is very much in the race.

Conclusion:

The claim that Olumide Akpata has withdrawn from the Edo State governorship race is false. Akpata has refuted the reports, reaffirming his commitment to running as the Labour Party candidate. The misinformation circulating on this matter appears to be an attempt to create confusion ahead of the upcoming election. It is essential for voters and the public to rely on verified information from credible sources to avoid being misled.