Candidate of the Labour Party (LP) for the September 21 governorship election in Edo State, Bar. Olumide Akpata, has said the leadership crisis rocking the party in the state will not affect his chances of winning the election.

Akpata spoke at the weekend in Benin during an enlarged meeting of the party which was attended by local governments chairmen and secretaries of the party.

Recall that the crisis rocking the LP in Edo State had taken a new dimension a few days ago, when the national leadership of the party constituted a 17-man caretaker committee to oversee the affairs of the party in the state.

The committee is headed by a former speaker of Edo State House of Assembly, Elizabeth Ativie.

But the existing executive in the state is still claiming legitimacy, saying the composition of a caretaker committee is illegal.

But Akpata said, "It won't affect my chances in the election. I don't think any voter in Benin City or other parts of the state would say, 'I won't vote for Akpata or Labour Party' because they are quarrelling.

"Voters would only listen to the message Akpata has for them and if they are convinced, they will vote for me and if they are not, they won't vote for me."