Shaibu initially resigned from the APC in June 2020 and joined the PDP, alongside Governor Godwin Obaseki, with whom he won the 2020 Edo State governorship election. However, his relationship with Obaseki soured as he sought to succeed him in 2024, leading to his impeachment.
Philip Shaibu, the reinstated Deputy Governor of Edo State, expressed happiness about working against the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), to enable the All Progressives Congress (APC) to take control of the state.
Shaibu initially resigned from the APC in June 2020 and joined the PDP, alongside Governor Godwin Obaseki, with whom he won the 2020 Edo State governorship election. However, his relationship with Obaseki soured as he sought to succeed him in 2024, leading to his impeachment.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Sunday declared Senator Monday Okpebholo of the APC winner of the state governorship election held on Saturday, September 21, 2024.
The electoral commission declared Okpebholo winner of the election on Sunday, saying he polled a total of 291,667 votes to defeat his closest contender, Asue Ighodalo of the PDP, who scored a total 247,274 votes.
But this declaration was rejected by the PDP over alleged irregularities and breach of due process in the collation of the results.
Speaking in an interview with Arise TV about the outcome of the election, Shaibu expressed satisfaction with the results.
He stated, “I feel vindicated and thank God for it. I am water, I don’t have enemies. Unfortunately for those that decided I am their enemy, I have always prayed for them to live long and see how God’s miracles continue to work in my life and the grace of God continue to flourish in my life. Like I always say, I am a team player.
“I am so excited and happy that I am counted among the numbers that have helped APC to regain the seat, Government House in Edo State,” the deputy governor stated.
He continued: “I have prayed for it and I worked for it. I have also cancelled that impression, negative impression and blackmail that have been flying that Philip Shuaib does not win his ward. It is a lie; I have never lost my ward. I have never lost my unit. I always win it.
“Today, I have the highest votes from my unit in the entire 192 wards. And in the local government, you can see. Those that have blackmailed me, they can see.
“Even the governor couldn’t win his local government. I won my unit which is number one now in the state, I won my ward and I am still number one, and in local government. I took first from my unit to ward to the local government.”
He also mocked Obaseki for not only losing the election but also failing to secure victory for the PDP) in his local government area.
He added: “Where is the governor’s result? He has never won; we always assist him. But unfortunately, he got the power and he started kicking us and removing the leader.
“It is very unfortunate and I hope he learns his lessons. What is left now is for him to go back and start begging and apologising to the people of Edo State, and he has a lot of them that he needs to go and apologise to.”
