The reinstated Deputy Governor of Edo State, Philip Shuaibu, has defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressive Congress (APC).
He defected during the APC Edo State’s inauguration of the National Working Committee of the Edo governorship election meeting held on Saturday.
The meeting had in attendance the former governor of Kano State and National Chairman of the APC, Abdullahi Ganduje, including the governors of Ondo State, Lucky Aiyedatiwa and Cross River Bassey Otu.
The Edo State APC State Chairman, Jarett Tenebe, and the Governorship Candidate, Senator Monday Okpebholo, and Adams Oshiomole were also at the meeting.
Shaibu, who declared his intention to defect to the APC, was received into the party by the National Organising Secretary.
The development followed an accusation by Shaibu, on Friday, that his principal, Godwin Obaseki, denied him entry into the state.
The 54-year-old stated this during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today two days after 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.
He vowed to continue fighting all through the electioneering period until the September 21 governorship election in the state.
The deputy governor 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, Shaibu 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.”
Meanwhile, he wrote on X:
“It is a triumphant homecoming for me, as I officially return to the All Progressives Congress (APC), the party where I am accepted, valued, and welcomed with open arms.”
He added: “The party holds a special place in my heart, and where I have shared countless memories.“I am grateful to be back among the people and communities that have always supported me, and to reunite with my political family.”
Shuaibu’s defection was accompanied by members of the PDP legacy coalition who were in his company.
