Olumide Akpata: The spoiler effect?
By John Mayaki The consensus for Edo 2024 governorship election has been established – power shifts to Edo Central – but there’s a spoiler effect by political wheeler-dealers that could disrupt this political equation, which is originally designed for peaceful co-existence in the state. Close observers of electioneering often talk about the spoiler effect, which […]
Olumide Akpata Esq.
By John Mayaki
The consensus for Edo 2024 governorship election has been established – power shifts to Edo Central – but there’s a spoiler effect by political wheeler-dealers that could disrupt this political equation, which is originally designed for peaceful co-existence in the state.
Close observers of electioneering often talk about the spoiler effect, which is when a third party candidate (sponsored by mercenaries) divides the voting bloc meant for the most popular candidate in a contest, resulting in a win for his sponsors’ preferred candidate, whom oftentimes end up as a lackey to political godfathers.
The spoiler effect has jeopardized many significant elections in the past – do you remember how Peter Obi of the Labour Party played the spoiler against Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party and the resultant effect in 2023 presidential election? Something akin is in the offing, about to take place in Edo state.
No doubt, Olumide Akpata has a right to contest the election and that right is inalienable. But some persons have accused him of being sponsored by the All Progressives Congress (APC) and that an alleged deal has been struck for a sell out. Otherwise, why should Olumide Akpata seek power from Edo South after the completion of Governor Godwin Obaseki’s 8-year tenure from the same senatorial district of Edo South?
If the widespread allegation that the Labour Party candidate is in cahoots with the APC is real, then it means our political system is broken and overrun. I am too frightened for our future if we unwittingly allow horse-trading of this nature to succeed, thereby jeopardising the expected margin of victory for Asue Ighodalo and Ogie. No Edo man or woman should encourage mortgaging the future of our dear state.
Obviously, there’s nothing stopping the candidate of the PDP, Dr. Asue Ighodalo from coasting home to victory with a landslide come September 21st, if this spoiler effect is not lurking in the shadows.
Nonetheless, I am certain that irrespective of this unholy alliance between Akpata and the APC, Asue and Ogie will still win in the forthcoming election but all hands must be on deck to avert runoff elections as a result of this mindless ploy against the peoples’ mandate.
A stitch in time saves nine!