APC hails support for party’s candidate
The Edo State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has condemned the former Deputy Governor, Philip Shaibu, for his remarks about the party’s governorship candidate, Asue Ighodalo.
Shaibu recently described Ighodalo as an outsider, sparking controversy within the party. The PDP criticised Shaibu’s stance, calling it contradictory for him to remain a PDP member, while undermining its candidate. They urged him to resign if he cannot support the party’s choice.
The ex-Deputy Governor previously contested for the PDP governorship ticket but lost to Ighodalo, announced his support for the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Monday Okpebholo, in the upcoming September 21 governorship election.
Shaibu justified his decision by claiming that Okpebholo, unlike Ighodalo, is a “homeboy” who understands the state’s challenges.He argued that Ighodalo is an outsider and a product of godfatherism, which the state should move away from.
In response, the Deputy Director General of the media arm of the Edo PDP Governorship Campaign Council, Olu Martin, dismissed Shaibu’s comments as unfounded. Martin argued that Ighodalo’s lack of upbringing in Edo does not make him a stranger.
He criticised Shaibu for not highlighting the capabilities and leadership qualities of his preferred candidate. He further accused Shaibu of being inconsistent by staying in the PDP, while working against its candidate. He suggested that he should have resigned from the PDP to support the APC candidate, describing his arguments as weak.
MEANWHILE, the APC in Edo State, yesterday, called on Nigerians and Edo State people, in particular, to ignore what it described as “irritating and baseless” call on Shaibu to resign his membership of PDP, because of his open declaration to support the candidate of APC.
The Publicity Director of Monday Okpebholo Governorship Campaign Council, Orobosa Omo-Ojo, in a statement said: “It is obvious that PDP is yet to understand the hurricane that has happened in their party. Virtually everyone with political relevance has left, and those left are only waiting as undertakers to bury them.
According to him, rather than ask Shaibu to resign, PDP should suspend their outgoing governor, Godwin Obaseki, for leading them to political obscurity in Edo State.
