The Deputy to Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State, Philip Shaibu, will on Monday, officially declare his interest in seeking the ticket of the Peoples Democratic Party in the forthcoming primary election of the party ahead of the 2024 governorship election in the state.
This was disclosed by a close source who stated that all was now set for the epoch-making event which would be held in Benin City, the Edo State capital.
According to the source, top PDP politicians across the 18 local government areas of the state and even beyond will be present at the event on Monday, November 27, 2023.
Premium Politics reported that Shaibu hinted at his intention to run in the coming election while speaking with journalists in Abuja recently.
The Deputy Governor said during the interview, that Edo people were in dire need of practical governance and could not afford to experiment again with someone who does not understand the politics and needs of Edo State.
He said: “Everywhere, including the international scene, people are clamouring that governments should not be pushing projects that are not needed.
“So, we need to do needs assessment. You cannot know the needs of the people when you don’t live with them.
“For me, competence and experience should be the watchword. Who is competent, and more experienced and who will hit the ground running from day one if he becomes governor? Are we going to experiment with a new person again and the person will spend the first four years learning on the job and the next four years trying to embezzle and set up businesses in the name of consolidating on his first term?”
However, the source who preferred not to be mentioned, disclosed that the magnific ceremony was a clear demonstration of Shaibu’s determination to contest the primary and grab the party’s ticket in the primaries scheduled for next February.
The source further explained that having set up structures throughout the 192 wards and 18 LGAs in the state, met the owners of the party and rented a campaign office on Airport Road, Benin City, the stage was now set for Shaibu to finally take the leap of faith.
According to him, the deputy governor had since patched up with Governor Godwin Obaseki, saying that the amity between the two, which almost turned to enmity, in the wake of Shaibu’s decision to run in the 2024 election, has since returned to
cordiality.
“The deputy governor has dotted all his i’s and crossed all his t’s. He has held a series of meetings with PDP political leaders across the three senatorial districts and met ordinary Edo people.
“On November 27, the deputy governor, will by the Grace of God, formally make his intentions to run for the governorship election known.
“He will address Edo people and tell them why he wants to run,” the source said.
