Philip Shaibu, the impeached former Deputy Governor of Edo State, and another former PDP governorship aspirant, Hon. Omoregbe Ogbeide-Ihama, have both thrown their support behind the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Monday Okpebholo, ahead of the upcoming governorship election on September 21.
Both Shaibu and Ogbeide-Ihama were initially in the PDP and contested for the party’s governorship ticket but lost to Asue Ighodalo, who was Governor Godwin Obaseki’s preferred candidate and eventual winner.
In a significant move, Shaibu and Ogbeide-Ihama have collapsed their structures within the PDP and joined forces with the APC. Shaibu, despite his impeachment, has demonstrated his commitment by donating over 50 Toyota Sienna buses, music trucks, and his campaign secretariat office to the APC’s Okpebholo/DENCO Campaign Organisation. Similarly, Ogbeide-Ihama, a former two-time member of the House of Representatives, has donated a fully equipped campaign office to the APC.
Osigwe Omo-Ikirodah, the Director of the APC New Media Campaign Committee, confirmed these donations and highlighted their potential impact on the Edo political landscape. He noted that Shaibu and Ogbeide-Ihama’s support for the APC could influence other PDP members to reassess their positions and possibly switch allegiance, thereby bolstering APC’s support base.
Omo-Ikirodah emphasized that these developments signify a turning point in Edo State politics, showcasing the growing momentum behind the APC and its agenda for progress and development. As the APC consolidates its position, he expressed optimism about building unprecedented momentum heading into the governorship election.
Overall, Shaibu and Ogbeide-Ihama’s defection and substantial contributions to the APC mark a significant political realignment in Edo State, shaping the dynamics leading up to the forthcoming election.