Philip Shaibu, recently reinstated as the Deputy Governor of Edo State, alongside the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) legacy coalition members, has defected to the All Progressive Congress (APC).
He disclosed his defection during the Saturday meeting of the APC Edo State’s National Working Committee for the Edo governorship race.
The meeting was attended by the governors of Ondo State, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, Cross River, Bassey Otu, and Abdullahi Ganduje, the National Chairman of the APC and a former governor of Kano State.
Adams Oshiomole, Senator Monday Okpebholo, the governorship candidate, and Jarett Tenebe, the state chairman of the APC in Edo State, were also present at the meeting.
The National Organising Secretary welcomed Shaibu into the party after he announced his plan to leave for the APC.
This happened after Shaibu claimed on Friday that he was refused entry into the state by his principal, Godwin Obaseki.
Philip Shaibu stated this during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today two days after the Federal High Court in Abuja ordered his reinstatement as deputy governor.
“Yesterday, I got intel that the governor has told his men that they must not allow me into town. I am a free-born of Edo State, nobody can stop me from entering Edo State,” he said.
“The constitution does not allow anybody to bar me from entering Edo State, not even when I am a deputy governor. Even if I am an ordinary citizen, I should have a right. I should have freedom.”
Shaibu recalled when he declared his intention to run for the governorship ticket under the PDP in November 2023, alleging Obaseki said he would destroy him.
Describing himself as a devout Catholic, the deputy governor said it is only God that can destroy man.
Philip Shaibu Vows To Continue FIghting
He vowed to continue fighting all through the electioneering period until the September 21 governorship election in the state.
Philip Shaibu also accused the governor of orchestrating Thursday’s attack in Benin City, alleging that Obaseki was keeping true to his earlier promise to destroy him.
“I didn’t know he (Obaseki) would arm them (gunmen) that much. I remember the governor saying during this crisis when I declared to contest for the governor that if I continued, he would destroy me.
“With what happened yesterday, it was obvious that it was an orchestrated attempt to actualise that statement that he was going to destroy me,” he said.
He also mourned the police inspector who was killed when his convoy and that of the APC candidate, Monday Okpebholo, was attacked in Benin City by suspected gunmen.
On his return to Benin City on Thursday, Obaseki and Okpebholo escaped death on Thursday when their convoy was attacked in Benin City by suspected gunmen.
Unfortunately, Okon who was attached to Okpebholo, died during the shootout between security operatives and the gunmen.
During the show, Shaibu said he would work hard to preserve the institution of the office of the deputy governor.
He accused Obaseki of destroying his office, saying he had not been paid for the past year.
Shaibu added, “One of my main cardinal goals is to strengthen institutions. I am seeing the institution of the office of the deputy governor being destroyed by the governor for personal gain.
“That is why I am fighting to bring back the sanity of the office of the deputy governor not for my personal self. The governor has not paid me for the past year and I know he is not going to pay me for the remaining four months.”
