The deputy governor of Edo State, Philip Shaibu, on Saturday, July 20, 2024, officially defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Shaibu alongside other members of the PDP legacy coalition group announced their defection in Benin, the Edo State capital, at the inauguration of the National Campaign Council of the party for the September 21 governorship election in the state.
The APC National Chairman, Dr Abdullahi Ganduje, and other members of the party’s National Working Committee (NWC), who received the deputy governor and other defectors, said they have come to add value to the party.
Ganduje added that the APC will take over Edo State after the governorship election.
Shaibu was also warmly embraced by the senator representing the Edo North, Adams Oshiomhole, whom the deputy governor referred to as his father.
Shaibu, who was recently reinstated by the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja after his impeachment by the Edo State House of Assembly, has since been in a rift with his principal, Governor Godwin Obaseki, over his governorship ambition.
Shaibu: My assassination planned by Obaseki, I remain deputy gov
The deputy governor vied for the gubernatorial ticket of the PDP but lost to the former Chairman of Sterling Bank Plc, Asue Ighodalo.
He later declared support for the APC governorship candidate in Edo State, Monday Okpebholo.
A convoy having Shaibu and Okpebholo was attacked in the state on Thursday, July 18, and a police officer was killed.
The deputy governor, on Friday, July 19, said the attack was an assassination attempt allegedly orchestrated by Governor Obaseki.
Shaibu said: “I can tell you that Thursday’s attack was planned by the state governor to assassinate me. The governor vowed to destroy me when I remained resolute to vie for the position of the governor.
“They said I was the one who planned the attack but I came in peacefully from Abuja to the state capital. Why were the armed thugs laying ambush for me? Were they expecting a visitor?
“I have already instituted a N50 billion suit against the governor, Nehikhare, and Osagie for defamation. They will be served next week.”
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