Reinstated Deputy Governor of Edo State, Comrade Philip Shaibu, who defected from the All Progressives Congress (APC) to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) alongside Governor Godwin Obaseki on June 19, 2020, has now returned to the APC.
In a significant gesture, Shaibu knelt before former APC National Chairman, Senator Adams Oshiomhole, as part of his return to the party.
The event took place in Benin during the inauguration of the APC’s National Campaign Council for the September 21, 2024, governorship election, led by Cross River State Governor, Senator Bassey Otu.
Shaibu, along with prominent PDP members and their supporters, declared, “I am back to add value to the APC. On behalf of the Legacy Group, I announce our movement to the APC. It is time to take back our state. We will not talk too much, because action will speak for us. We are ready to take our state back through the APC governorship candidate, Senator Monday Okpebholo, and his running mate, Dennis Idahosa.”
Receiving Shaibu and other defectors, APC National Chairman, Dr. Abdulahi Ganduje, stated that Shaibu’s return meant the APC already had 50 percent of Edo’s votes.
He assured that an upcoming grand rally in Benin would feature President Bola Tinubu, and emphasized that Okpebholo and Idahosa would focus on tangible development rather than Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs).
Ganduje described Okpebholo as a developer committed to good governance and referred to Idahosa as a “projects’ man.”
He urged the Edo electorate to vote massively for them.
Oshiomhole, Senator representing Edo North senatorial district, called for the disbandment of the Edo State Security Network (ESSN) and urged the state’s Commissioner of Police, Funso Adegboye, to uncover the killers of police Inspector Onuh Akoh, who was killed during an attack on the convoy of Shaibu and Okpebholo.
He accused Governor Obaseki of failing to build on his legacies and underdeveloping the state.
Senator Monday Okpebholo expressed optimism about winning the upcoming election with the support of Edo residents and promised to ensure good governance and unity among the people.
