By DADA AYOKHAI
Expectedly, Edo State deputy governor, Hon. Philip Shaibu has reacted to the adoption of his rival in the tussle for the PDP governorship ticket, saying those behind the adoption lack the powers to do so
Penultimate week, Edo North PDP leaders converged in the private residence of Chief Mike Oghiadomhe in Fugar, Etsako Central, where they adopted Dr. Asue Ighodalo for the Edo 2024 guber election
Stunned by the action of his kinsmen, a visibly angry Hon. Shaibu reacted sharply to the development and described the purported meeting as “a slight” on his person as well as the office he occupies as the sitting deputy governor of the state
Incidentally, the meeting where Dr. Asue Ighodalo was adopted was attended by key Shaibu henchmen.
Hon. Shaibu dismissed the adoption as “null and void” but can his opinion hold sway in the light of the considerable influence exerted by those who attended the meeting?
Addressing a group of his supporters who visited him in his Jattu, Etsako West country home, shortly after the annual Auchi Day celebration,.
He said, “To me, that meeting did not hold. By virtue of my office as the deputy governor, I remain the leader of the Edo North PDP. Any meeting held in the district without my knowledge and consent is deemed as null and void”.
However, a PDP leader who attended the meeting with no intention of having his name mentioned said Shaibu’s statement is s a sign of “paranoid and arrogance, saying he is truly beginning to sound and act like a drowning man
He wondered if Shaibu would not have grumbled if the meeting had adopted him. He also frowned at his endless naggings, adding he cannot be a law unto himself .
Similarly, another PDP leader at the meeting said “I am somehow of the opinion that Philip should be ignored. He has forgotten he told us that leaders don’t contest elections. He has to chose between being a leader and his contesting. As a contestant, he abandoned his leadership role of Edo North Senatorial District. He was invited to meeting.”
Meanwhile, the deputy governor, Philip shaibu have purchased the PDP expression of interest form.
He bought the form by proxy,-
The purchase of the form was performed by a group know as former leaders of the Association of former NANS Leaders and stakeholders .
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The buying of the and the follow up took place at the Wadata House National Headquarters of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Abuja on Thursday.
Patrick Afubere, Godwin Maliga, and others who led the group stated that Shaibu’s track record as the Deputy Governor of Edo State for the past seven years motivated them to contribute their modest amount to support his aspiration to contest the PDP gubernatorial primaries in Edo State.
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