Nigeria Edo Deputy Governor Philip Shaibu Kneels Before Oshiomhole in Dramatic Return to APC

Edo Deputy Governor Philip Shaibu dramatically returns to APC, kneeling before Adams Oshiomhole. APC leaders welcome the defection, claiming it secures 50% of Edo votes.

In a dramatic turn of events, Edo State's Deputy Governor Philip Shaibu has returned to the All Progressives Congress (APC), kneeling before former APC National Chairman Adams Oshiomhole during a high-profile defection ceremony in Benin. This move marks a significant shift in Edo's political landscape ahead of the September 2024 gubernatorial election.

Shaibu, who had previously defected to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) alongside Governor Godwin Obaseki in 2020, cited a desire to "add value" to the APC and "take back the state" as reasons for his return. The deputy governor's defection, along with other prominent PDP members, was welcomed by APC's National Chairman, Dr. Abdulahi Ganduje, who claimed it secured 50% of Edo's votes for the party.

The event coincided with the inauguration of APC's National Campaign Council for the upcoming election, headed by Cross River State Governor Bassey Otu. Ganduje promised that, unlike the current PDP administration, an APC government would govern Edo with concrete plans rather than memoranda of understanding.

Senator Adams Oshiomhole used the platform to criticize Governor Obaseki's performance, accusing him of underdevelopment and failure to build on previous legacies. He also called for the disbandment of the Edo State Security Network and urged an investigation into recent political violence.

APC's gubernatorial candidate, Senator Monday Okpebholo, expressed optimism about victory in the upcoming election, promising to unite Edo residents and ensure good governance.