Governor Obaseki officially concluded his term on Monday, preparing to transfer power to the newly elected governor of Edo State, Monday Okpebholo. Okpebholo secured his position after triumphing in the governorship election held on September 21, 2024, defeating his main contender, Asue Ighodalo of the Peoples Democratic Party.
However,despite swirling rumors of his alleged disappearance from the state, Deputy Governor Shuaibu expressed his “deep happiness” about the transition to Okpebholo and his deputy.
“I am truly glad that this day has arrived, and I will be handing over to a new deputy governor,” Shuaibu stated.
He further noted the lack of communication with the outgoing governor, saying, “The governor and I have not been in touch; it’s quite unfortunate that I haven’t seen him in the last four days. Under normal circumstances, if the governor is absent, the deputy would oversee the handover. Regardless of his presence, I’m prepared to proceed with the transition.”
When asked about his experience working alongside Obaseki, Shuaibu, despite his loyalty to the outgoing governor, remarked that he “faced numerous challenges” during the administration.
“Yes, I have returned to the APC. I was among the young pioneers who established the APC in Edo State. Out of loyalty, I followed my governor and switched from APC to PDP. I made this move not for my own desire but out of loyalty to Obaseki. Now, I am back in APC because of him.”
He expressed gratitude for the chance to reconcile with his political mentor, Oshimole, whom he had previously clashed with due to his allegiance to Obaseki.
