The membership of the Edo State chapter of the All Progressives Congress swelled on Saturday as the reinstated Deputy Governor of the state, Philip Shaibu, alongside prominent members with their supporters dumped the People’s Democratic Party.
The decamping, which took place in Benin at the inauguration of the National Campaign Council by the APC National chairman, Abdulahi Ganduje, put an end to several months of speculation over Shaibu’s continuous stay in the PDP.
The deputy governor fell out with Governor Godwin Obaseki over his ambition to succeed his principal and was impeached after he lost to Asue Ighodalo in the PDP primary.
He was, however, reinstated by the court on Wednesday by the Abuja High Court and this has further caused division between Obaseki and him.
Speaking at the event, Shaibu said he was back to add value to the APC.
He said, “On behalf of the Legacy Group, I announce our movement to the APC. We have come to add value to the party.
“It is time to take back our state. We will not talk too much because action will speak for us. We are not afraid; we are ready to move forward.
“We, the home boys, are ready to take our state back through the APC governorship candidate, Monday Okpebholo and his running mate, Dennis Idahosa. We are not trouble makers but if it comes, we will use it to rub our body and move on.”
Ganduje, while inaugurating the National Campaign Council of the party for the September 21 governorship election headed by Cross River State Governor, Bassey Otu, received the defectors.
The APC national chairman said since Shaibu was a serving deputy governor, the party had 50 per cent of the people of Edo State.
He disclosed that the party would soon organise a grand rally in Benin to be attended by President Bola Tinubu, saying that the APC governorship candidate, Senator Monday Okpebholo, and his running mate, Dennis Idahosa “are not coming with MOUs but concrete plans to develop Edo State and to connect the state to the centre”.
Also speaking, Oshiomhole, a Senator representing Edo North, lamented that the development legacy recorded by his administration in all sectors of the state had not been sustained by the Obaseki’s government.
He said Okpebholo’s major strength is empathy because he contributed millions to boost security in Esan land years back.
Speaking of the recent attack on Shaibu and Okpebholo convoy, which claimed the life of a police inspector, Oshiomhole called on the state Commissioner of Police, Funsho Adeboye to defend the integrity of his uniform by producing the killers of the police officer.
Wishing Shaibu well in the official endeavours, the Chairman of the PDP in the state, Tony Aziegbemi, said those who were calling to join the party after Shaibu’s exit were more than those leaving.
He said, “I wish them good luck in their official endeavours. The PDP cannot be depleted because of this.
“Every vote counts but those who are now coming to us because of his exit are more than those who are leaving the party, so we are good. People have been calling me since he left to say they want to join our party.”
