Former Labour Party Presidential Aspirant Speaks Out Amid Party Switch Rumors

The Labour Party (LP) 2024 gubernatorial candidate in Edo State, Olumide Akpata, has refuted claims that he intends to defect to the All Progressives Congress (APC). According to Ireporter Online, Akpata, in a post on , described the rumors as “mischievous and false,” emphasizing that he has neither considered nor discussed any move to the APC.

He stated, “In the past 24 hours, a malicious, mischievous, and utterly false rumour has circulated on social media, alleging that I have abandoned the Labour Party, the platform on which I contested the 2024 Edo State gubernatorial election, to join the APC. This is not only false but laughable. I have neither contemplated, discussed, nor effected a defection to the APC and, for the avoidance of doubt, I have no intention of ever joining the APC.”

In a related development, the Labour Party criticized the sudden defection of its former Lagos governorship candidate, Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour, to the African Democratic Congress (ADC). Rhodes-Vivour officially joined the ADC in a ceremony held at Alimosho Local Government Area, citing the party as a strong coalition to drive Nigeria’s progress ahead of the 2027 elections.

However, LP’s interim National Publicity Secretary, Tony Akeni, described the move as hasty and ill-advised. Akeni noted that Rhodes-Vivour’s action contrasted with the political strategy of LP’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, who has continued to engage with opposition parties without leaving the Labour Party. He further explained that it was a consensus within the party that no single opposition group could alone dislodge the APC in 2027, and Rhodes-Vivour’s decision to quit was therefore premature and counterproductive.