The Oba of Benin, His Royal Majesty Oba Ewuare II, refutes Labour Party candidate Olumide Akpata’s claim of being a “son of the palace” ahead of the Edo gubernatorial election.
Benin City, Nigeria — The Oba of Benin, His Royal Majesty Oba Ewuare II, has refuted claims made by Olumide Akpata, the Labour Party (LP) candidate for the upcoming gubernatorial election in Edo State. Akpata had claimed to be a “son of the palace” during a visit to the Oba’s palace with the 2023 presidential candidate of LP, Peter Obi.
During the visit, Akpata sought the support of the traditional ruler, repeatedly referring to himself as a “son of the palace” in both English and the local dialect. However, in a video clip circulating online, the Oba of Benin swiftly dismissed Akpata’s assertion, revealing that his claims were unfounded.
Oba Ewuare II stated that he had tasked one of his chiefs with verifying Akpata’s claim, only to find that the LP candidate had no direct or distant links to the palace. “You are an industrious son of the soil, but to say you are a child of the Palace, I am not aware that any of my children is contesting or is a politician. So I need to make that clarification for the sake of the public and the fourth estate of the realm,” the Oba clarified.
Reacting to the development, Anthony Ehilebo, a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), posted the video on his official X handle, mocking Akpata and expressing disbelief at the candidate’s false claims. He remarked, “Can you see how backing the wrong person can bring you shame. If I were Peter na ground I would just enter!”
The incident has sparked discussions and reactions across various platforms, highlighting the importance of accurate representations in political campaigns.
