The All Progressives Congress in Edo State has expressed appreciation for former deputy governor Rt. Hon Philip Shaibu’s public endorsement of its party and governorship candidate Sen. Monday Okpebholo on Tuesday.
In a statement issued by Comrade Orobosa Omo-Ojo, Director of Publicity for the Senator Monday Okpebholo Governorship Campaign Council, the APC also criticized calls from certain quarters for Shaibu to resign from the People’s Democratic Party.
Shaibu had openly declared his support for Okpebholo on Sunday and accused Governor Godwin Obaseki of straddling between the PDP and the Labour Party during the 2023 general elections.
Part of Omo-Ojo’s statement reads, “PDP should first suspend His Excellency, Godwin Obaseki and the party’s running mate, Osarodion Ogie for spending the state’s resources to build structure for the Labour Party in Edo State, before the last general election before and during LP’s primary elections which the duo funded and had planned to produce their stooge.”
He continued, “It is obvious that PDP is yet to understand the hurricane that has happened in their party. Virtually everyone with political relevance has left and those left are only lying and waiting as undertakers to bury them.”
“Rather than ask Shaibu to resign, PDP should suspend their outgoing governor, Obaseki for leading them to political obscurity in Edo State.”
The statement praised Shaibu as a political giant and a stalwart of the state, likening him to the APC’s own candidate.
It also called on the PDP to reconsider its strategy and address recent controversies, including the alleged leakage of examination papers under the state’s Edo Best education program, advocating for an independent panel to investigate the matter promptly.