Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, braved the rain on Saturday to inaugurate the party’s campaign office in Benin City ahead of the September 21 governorship election in Edo State. Barrister Olumide Akpata is the party’s governorship candidate, with Alhaji Yusuf Asamah Kadiri as his running mate.
The event saw Obi and other party leaders conducting a road walk through major streets in Benin City and visiting the Uwelu Spare Market, where they were warmly received by traders.
In addition to the inauguration, Obi paid a courtesy visit to the Oba of Benin, Oba Ewuare II, seeking his royal blessings and prayers for the party’s success in the upcoming election. Speaking at the palace, Obi expressed gratitude for the Oba’s fatherly guidance and emphasized the importance of free, fair, and credible elections for the nation’s greatness. He voiced his belief that with the Oba’s prayers, the Labour Party could make significant progress in the governorship race.
Olumide Akpata, the party’s governorship candidate, also addressed the monarch, explaining that he sought the Oba’s blessings before commencing his political campaign. Akpata highlighted the necessity of the Oba’s prayers in his mission to rescue the state from poor governance, expressing confidence in the party’s strength and its ability to deliver democratic dividends across Edo’s 18 local government areas.
The Oba of Benin welcomed Obi, Akpata, and other Labour Party chieftains, wishing them success in their campaign efforts throughout the state.
