Onyekachi Eze 
The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has said the return of Comrade Philip Shaibu to the All Progressives Congress (APC) was a confirmation that he joined the race for PDP ticket to serve his personal interest and not the interest and wellbeing of the people of Edo State.
PDP in a statement issued by the National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, noted that while in the race, Comrade Shaibu had no tangible campaign manifesto, programme or plan for Edo State.
According to the party, Shaibu only “engaged in actions and utterances aimed to derail the PDP governorship nomination processes and frustrate the will of the majority of the people of Edo State.”
The party told Shaibu whose impeachment was reversed by the court that he was being used and dumped, alleging that he has been reportedly described as “a complete political liability and highly cancerous politician that must be avoided in order to prevent him from infesting our party (APC) with his ill-fated inordinate, desperate and obnoxious ambition”.
PDP said APC stakeholders from his Etsako West Local Government Area, reportedly stated that “a close assessment of Philip Shaibu’s political participation would reveal him as a man that is politically rancorous and he derives joy in initiating, propagating and sustaining unending crisis in any association or political party he belongs.”
The party stated that Shaibu’s Local Government also described him as having no electoral value, noting that his return to the APC is a calculated attempt by him “to bring rancour, disharmony and unprecedented crisis into the All Progressives Congress.”
PDP expressed no surprise that within 24 hours of Comrade Shaibu’s return to the APC, “the PDP governorship campaign has swelled as more citizens of Edo State, who do not want to be in the same political platform with Comrade Shaibu are now massively declaring support for the PDP and our candidate, Dr Asue Ighodalo.”
It said the party “welcomes democratically-minded and well-meaning members of the APC and other political parties who in their droves are now pitching tents with the PDP and Dr. Asue Ighodalo.
“It is clear that Dr. Asue Ighodalo is the only candidate campaigning with well-thought-out and people-oriented programme and who has the capacity, competence, experience and public acceptability to drive the desire of the people of Edo State for sustained development on the platform of the PDP.”
PDP urged the people of Edo State to remain focused in their overwhelming support for the party and its candidate, Dr. Asue Ighodalo in the September 21, 2024 governorship election in the state.
