Edo State’s Deputy Governor, Philip Shaibu, has expressed his discontent towards Governor Godwin Obaseki following the defeat of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Asue Ighodalo, in the recent gubernatorial election.
The election’s Returning Officer, Professor Faruq Adamu Kuta, who serves as the Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University of Technology (FUT) in Minna, announced that Monday Okpebholo from the All Progressives Congress (APC) emerged victorious, defeating Obaseki’s chosen PDP candidate, Asue Ighodalo.
In an interview on Monday, Shaibu, who has faced impeachment but was later reinstated, attributed Obaseki’s electoral loss to the governor’s estrangement from vital political allies who had previously supported his ascent.
Shaibu asserted that Obaseki’s unwillingness to work with crucial allies and his authoritarian approach led to significant dissatisfaction among his backers.
Having recently returned to the APC, Shaibu revealed that Obaseki’s demeanor contributed to over 600 prominent PDP leaders switching their allegiance to the APC.
He further alleged that Obaseki told him and nine other candidates from the PDP primary that he didn’t care about their concerns.
“We were the ones who made Obaseki governor. I maintain this because Obaseki was never a seasoned politician. He has never cast a vote in Edo State, just like Asue. But when Oshiomole persuaded us to support him, we united behind him. In his second term, our contributions were evident in securing his governorship,” Shaibu remarked.
“Now, the turning point is that all of us who were instrumental in Obaseki’s rise during both his terms have been alienated and pushed out of the PDP.
“The shift occurred due to his unwillingness to share his agenda, believing he could act as a dictator and impose his will. He seems to think that now that he has financial resources, he can navigate his way through politics, unlike in 2016.
“There were ten of us who ran in the PDP primaries, and to nine of us, he said to go to hell. He dismissed leaders who campaigned for him, starting with Oshiomole.
“Last I checked, around 618 key leaders have departed the PDP for the APC. Interestingly, we who had left the APC for the PDP brought along members from the PDP, leading to resignations among ward leaders and executives.”
