The Edo State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has rebuked former Deputy Governor Philip Shaibu for his recent comments regarding the party’s governorship candidate, Asue Ighodalo. Shaibu, despite being a PDP member, declared his support for the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Senator Monday Okpebholo, in the forthcoming governorship election.
Shaibu defended his choice by stating that Okpebholo is a “homeboy” familiar with the state’s issues, whereas Ighodalo is an “outsider” and a product of political godfatherism. “I chose to follow the homeboy in the APC. The man they are parading in the PDP is an outsider, and we have agreed that no more godfatherism in Edo. The man the PDP is parading is the godson of Obaseki, and there is no way a godson can be governor of Edo State again,” Shaibu stated.
In response, the PDP labeled Shaibu’s reasons as “baseless” and contradictory, highlighting that he remains a party member while opposing its candidate. Rev. Olu Martin, the party’s Deputy Director General of Media, urged Shaibu to resign from the PDP and officially join the APC if he genuinely supports their candidate. Martin emphasized that Ighodalo’s candidacy should not be discredited due to his upbringing outside the state. “Because the candidate didn’t grow up in Edo doesn’t make him a stranger in his own state. I thought Shaibu would tell us that the candidate he wants to support has the capacity, intelligence, knack for excellence, and smartness, which are the hallmarks of a great leader,” Martin remarked in a voice note sent to journalists on Monday.
Findwhosabi News reports that Asue Ighodalo, the PDP candidate, is backed by Governor Godwin Obaseki, while Shaibu, who had a fallout with Obaseki, was impeached earlier this year.