Edo Governorship: Shaibu Declares Support for APC Candidate, PDP Reacts

• Philip Shaibu announced support for APC’s Monday Okpebholo, rejecting PDP’s candidate as a product of godfatherism
• Shaibu emphasized the importance of a “homeboy” candidate who understands the people’s needs, criticizing outsiders’ lack of practical understanding

Ahead of the September 21 governorship election, Philip Shaibu, former Deputy Governor of Edo State, has announced his support for the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Senator Monday Okpebholo. Shaibu was impeached on April 8 by the state House of Assembly due to a conflict with Governor Godwin Obaseki over his ambition to contest the governorship election.

Speaking to St. Paul Catholic Church journalists in Benin City, Shaibu explained his decision, stating, “I cannot support the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Asue Ighodalo. He is a product of godfatherism, which has been eradicated in Edo State. Former Governor Comrade Adams Oshiomhole preached against it, and I joined Obaseki to fight against godfatherism during the 2020 election. I have also learned new political strategies from the governor.”

Shaibu supported Okpebholo, citing his qualities as a “homeboy” essential for governing Edo State. “I will support a homeboy. I entered the contest to be governor because I wanted governance to return to someone who understands our plight and the people’s feelings. We don’t want an outsider. We have experimented with an outsider, and it is not working. This time, we want a homeboy. We have only two homeboys in the major political parties; one is in the Labour Party, and one is in the APC,” he stated.

Shaibu criticized those who “speak English” but lack practical understanding of the state’s needs. “We are talking about governance—the man who understands the plight of the people. He wears the shoes and knows where it pinches,” he added.

In response, Rev. Olu Martin, Deputy Director General of the PDP Governorship Campaign Council, expressed surprise at Shaibu’s stance. He emphasized that the NANS group, which they are part of, focuses on debating issues, not sentiment or ethnicity.

Martin argued that Shaibu’s “homeboy” argument is weak. “Because a candidate didn’t grow up in Edo, it doesn’t make him a stranger in his state. I thought Shaibu would tell us that the candidate he wants to support has the capacity, intelligence, knack for excellence, and smartness, which are the hallmarks of a great leader.”

Martin further stated, “The honourable thing he should have done is to resign from the PDP like others and support the APC candidate. His argument is that of weak people.”