Philip Shaibu, the deputy governor of Edo State in South-South Nigeria, has formally announced his candidacy for the state’s 2024 governorship election after months of drama, agitation, and political manoeuvring. He said this in a speech that was prerecorded and broadcast today.
Shaibu, who has served as the state’s deputy governor since 2016, declared he would run for governor on the Peoples Democratic Party platform. (PDP).
Following his formal announcement, Shaibu held an event in the state capital of Benin City, where he opened his campaign office. Party supporters in branded attire were in attendance.
“After all the consultation we have made, we needed to now make the answer to our consultation known to our people. And the answer is clear: they have asked me to run,” Shaibu said.
The 53-year-old lawmaker declared that he was committed to restoring the South-South state’s glory and that he had risked his life for it. Shaibu claimed that despite being hounded, he was not destroyed. Shaibu and his principal, Governor Godwin Obaseki, have been engaged in a protracted legal battle over Shaibu’s political ambitions.
Shaibu hails from the Edo North Senatorial area, which is also home to Adams Oshiomhole, the former governor of the state and current legislator for the area in the 10th National Assembly.
Oshiomhole had counted both Obaseki and Shaibu as allies, but their political ties soured in the run-up to the 2020 governorship contest when the former labour leader was charged with “godfatherism,” a charge he refuted.
Both Obaseki and Shaibu managed to win reelection against Osagie Ize-Iyamu of the All Progressives Congress (APC), who had the support of Oshiomhole and other prominent APC members, such as Bola Tinubu, the former governor of Lagos State.
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