Philip Shaibu dumps PDP for APC

Philip Shaibu, the reinstated Deputy Governor of Edo State, and members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) legacy coalition have defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The defection took place during the APC Edo State’s inauguration of the National Working Committee for the upcoming governorship election on Saturday.

Prominent attendees included Abdullahi Ganduje, former governor of Kano State and National Chairman of the APC, and governors Lucky Aiyedatiwa of Ondo State and Bassey Otu of Cross River State. Also present were Jarett Tenebe, Edo State APC Chairman, Senator Monday Okpebholo, the APC governorship candidate, and Adams Oshiomole.

Shaibu was formally received into the APC by the National Organising Secretary after announcing his defection.

This move followed his accusation on Friday that Governor Godwin Obaseki had barred him from entering Edo State, a claim he made during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today.

Shaibu, reinstated as deputy governor by a Federal High Court in Abuja, emphasized his right to enter the state, stating that even as an ordinary citizen, he should have freedom of movement.

Shaibu also recalled his November 2023 declaration to run for the governorship under the PDP, alleging that Obaseki had threatened to destroy him.

He described himself as a devout Catholic and asserted that only God has the power to destroy a person. He vowed to continue his political fight through the electioneering period until the September 21 governorship election.

In the interview, Shaibu accused Governor Obaseki of orchestrating a recent attack in Benin City, which he claimed was part of Obaseki’s promise to destroy him.

He mourned the loss of a police inspector killed during the attack on his convoy and that of APC candidate Monday Okpebholo by suspected gunmen.

Shaibu also criticized Obaseki for undermining the office of the deputy governor and revealed he had not been paid for the past year.

He pledged to work towards preserving the integrity of the deputy governor’s office and accused Obaseki of destroying the office for personal gain. Shaibu expressed his commitment to restoring the office’s dignity, not for personal reasons but to strengthen institutional integrity.