Report that the Labour Party has conceded to support the candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Senator Monday Okpebholo, in the coming Edo State governorship poll has provoked reaction from the party(LP).
An online news medium had published that the party entered into an alliance with the APC that would make its supporters in the state, and candidate, Olumide Akpata(SAN), to support APC candidate.
The report further claimed that the Labour Party got N1.6bn over the deal from the presidency.
However, on Thursday via a statement LP Publicity Secretary in Edo, Sam Uruopa released, the party debunked the report.
“The attention of the Edo State Labour Party has been drawn to a malicious publication trending in some online media platforms by one Vincent Osaghae on August 20, 2024, alleging a secret alliance between our governorship candidate, Olumide Akpata, and the All Progressives Congress.
“We categorically deny these baseless allegations and consider them a desperate attempt to tarnish Olumide Akpata’s reputation and undermine his candidacy.
“Ordinarily, we would have ignored it because the author is insignificant but for the sake of the innocent reading public, we deemed it necessary to set the records straight.
“First, there is no truth in the claim that a secret alliance between Akpata and APC exists. Our candidate has consistently maintained his commitment to the Labour Party and its ideals.
“We also deny receiving any sponsorship from the APC or the Presidency. Akpata’s campaign is self-funded with the backing of loyal party members and supporters,” Uruopa wrote.
