Up until last Tuesday, the campaign of the governorship candidate of the Labour Party in Edo State, Barrister Olumide Akpata, was in the woods. Much was expected of Akpata having led the Nigerian Bar Association in what many, including colleagues in the profession, declared was a success.
That has now changed with the entry of the former presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 election Peter Obi, whose appearance at Akpata’s campaign has become the talk of the town.
Akpata who has had poor coverage in the media has been thrown a lifeline by Obi’s support. But would the youthful lawyer take advantage and recalibrate his campaign with nine days to the election?
The former NBA boss has been accused of shunning media interviews, refusing to pick or respond to media inquiries, embarking on solo campaigns, and having a weak campaign team that lacks vibe, vigour, and sense of direction.
Many expected Akpata to oil his campaign with ideas and strength to resonate with the public, especially the youth who may have grown weary of the Peoples Democratic Party and the All Progressives Congress.
From complaints of poor funding to poor mobilisation, the Akpata campaign was left suffering. He became a forgotten candidate leaving the coast for a two-horse race until Obi’s entry on Tuesday.
Obi’s participation in the campaign, which some Labour Party campaign members said was unplanned, has brought renewed vigour to Akpata’s governorship campaign, which had received little or no attention from potential voters.
Suddenly, voters and supporters are lining up the streets to support the Labour Party candidate. The atmosphere was electrifying as many abandoned their goods to join in the boisterous rally that was held on the street of Benin.
To send a message, the rally which was planned for the party’s secretariat at Saponba Road, moved through Ring Road, Oba Market, Mission Road, New Benin to the New Lagos Road where markets and offices emptied into the rally, suddenly becoming a procession.
Obi did not just attend, he endorsed Akpata while speaking to the crowd. He said, “I am here to tell you that the Labour Party’s candidate, Olumide Akpata, has the capacity to fix and move the state forward.
“I urge the electorate to come out en masse and vote for our party’s candidate.
“I am here to mobilise for our candidate and assure you that he will do well,” Obi told the crowd.
The new sense of hope brought by Obi to the Akpata campaign is not surprising. In less than one year into the 2023 general elections, Obi altered the political landscape, speaking the language Nigerians wanted and led a youth movement that almost gave him victory during the presidential election.
Many of his supporters who formed the Obedient Movement believed Obi won the election.
Stakeholders have said Akpata’s poor campaign has also led to lack of support from elected lawmakers under the party who have so far stayed away.
Unlike the ruling PDP in the state and the APC which controls the centre, boasting of a huge financial war chest, Akpata is allegedly the sole funder of the campaign.
The leadership crisis which party stakeholders have blamed on Julius Abure’s intransigence regarding the tenure of the National Working Committee has also made it difficult for the Labour Party to stage a proper campaign.
Also, internal divisions within the state chapter of the party have exacerbated the situation. One faction is loyal to the embattled ex-National Chairman, with former Edo House of Assembly Speaker, Elizabeth Ativie, serving as its chair. Another faction, led by Barrister Kelly Ogbaloi, includes Akpata.
The crisis in the Edo State chapter of the party began when the party’s state executive, under Ogbaloi’s leadership, ratified the suspension of Abure.
Ostensibly miffed at Ogbaloi’s action, Abure announced the dissolution of the Ogbaloi-led executive and replaced it with a caretaker committee headed by Ativie.
Political observers feared the division and crisis at both the state and national have negatively impacted the Akpata campaign and could imperil the chances of the Labour Party in the 21 September election.
But Ogbaloi disagreed, insisting that the Labour Party has been actively campaigning. “We’ve covered all 18 local government areas twice, presenting our candidate and party programme.”
“Every party has its strategy, and ours doesn’t require copying others. The electorate already knows that the Labour Party is the right choice for this election,” Ogbaloi said.
Ogbaloi also dismissed concerns of a likely domino effect of the leadership crisis at the national level, emphasising that, “The election is happening in Edo, not at the national level. The people voting are in this state, and they recognise that we have a strong candidate with the qualifications to lead,” he said.
His rival, Ativie, also agreed, declaring that the party’s chances are “bright,” despite their lack of presence on social media.
“We’ve been working hard behind the scenes. We don’t make as much noise as the other parties, but we’re well prepared,” she said.
“The public may think we aren’t campaigning because we’re not visible online, but we are fully on the ground and have done significant work,” she added.
But with Abure gone and Obi taking centre stage, there is high hope that a week is enough for Akpata to turn the corner.
Political observers stressed the importance of aggressive campaigns which involve granting regular interviews.
How far can Akpata go now depends on how far he’s ready to change his style and tactics as the election looms.
For now, Peter Obi has done his bit, the rest is for the ex-NBA chairman to do and see himself across the finish line a week from Saturday.