- Meanwhile, a former gubernatorial candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in 2012, Major-General Charles Arhiavbere has declared the absence of zoning in the All Progressives Congress (APC).
- Arhiavbere who is now a chieftain of APC stated this on Monday in Benin City, capital of the state, while declaring his intention to run for governorship.
Comrade Philip Shaibu, the deputy governor of Edo State, will formally announce his desire to run for governor of Edo State in 2024 next week.
Recall that Shaibu had previously clashed with Governor Godwin Obaseki, his principal, over the latter’s desire to become governor.
According to reports, Obaseki is supporting Dr. Asue Ighodalo, the head of the board of trustees at Alaghodaro Economic Summit Ltd./Gte, to follow him. It is said that Obaseki is not amenable to his deputy succeeding him.
Shaibu, however, has been discussing his ambition to run for office with lawmakers and the media, most recently during a meeting with reporters in Abuja this past weekend. There were rumours that a comparable gathering will take place on Tuesday in Lagos.
Speaking to The PUNCH on Monday, a close aide to Shaibu said, “If everything works according to his (Shaibu’s) plans, he will officially declare his intention next week.
“He has already secured a campaign office along Airport Road, some of the campaign vehicles have started arriving, and the consultations have reached an advanced stage.
“He has been endorsed by his kinsmen, and he has also met with several groups, including the media, in the last few weeks. He is ready for the race. All he needs to do is declare his intention next week, all things being equal.”
Speaking with journalists in Abuja on Saturday, Shaibu said he wanted to succeed Obaseki because “Edo people are in dire need of practical governance, and we cannot afford to experiment again with someone who does not understand the politics and needs of Edo State.”
He said, “Everywhere, including the international scene, people are clamoring that governments should not be pushing projects that are not needed. So, we need to do needs assessment. You cannot know the needs of the people when you don’t live with them. For me, competence and experience should be the watchword. Who is competent, more experienced, and who will hit the ground running from day one if he becomes governor? Are we going to experiment with a new person again, and the person will spend the first four years learning on the job and the next four years trying to embezzle and set up businesses in the name of consolidating on his first term?”