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Edo Deputy Governor Shaibu takes a jab at Governor Obaseki following the recent governorship election, where the ruling party faced a setback with the loss of a local government area to (APC).

In a jubilant display of enthusiasm, Philip Shaibu, the deputy governor of Edo State, has shared his excitement over the recent triumph of the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Monday Okpebholo, in the gubernatorial election held on Saturday, September 21.

The announcement of Okpebholo’s victory by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Sunday has sparked a wave of celebration among party supporters and officials alike.

Following the official declaration of results, Shaibu expressed that he has been “over the moon” with joy, reflecting the sentiments of many who rallied behind Okpebholo’s campaign.

This victory marks a significant moment for the APC in Edo, and Shaibu’s exuberance underscores the party’s hopes for a prosperous future under the new leadership.

In a significant electoral victory, Senator Okpebholo emerged triumphant with a total of 291,667 votes, outpacing his rival Asue Ighodalo of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who secured 247,274 votes. This win not only highlights Okpebholo’s popularity but also serves as a political statement, as Shaibu, a prominent figure in the All Progressives Congress (APC), took the opportunity to criticize Governor Godwin Obaseki for losing his own local government area, Oredo, to the APC.

Shaibu, representing Etsako West LGA, expressed his satisfaction with the APC’s strong showing in his region, where the party amassed 32,107 votes against the PDP’s 17,483.

He emphasized the significance of this performance, particularly noting that Adams Oshiomhole, the senator for Edo North and a leading member of the APC, also hails from Etsako West, reinforcing the party’s influence in the area and setting the stage for future political dynamics in Edo State.

In the Oredo Local Government Area, the electoral results revealed a significant victory for Okpebholo, who garnered 30,780 votes. In contrast, Ighodalo trailed with 24,938 votes, while Olumide Akpata from the Labour Party managed to secure 5,389 votes.

The aftermath of the election has sparked discussions, with Shaibu pointing to Obaseki’s purported neglect of essential party figures as a contributing factor to the People’s Democratic Party’s defeat.

During a recent interview on Arise TV, Shaibu elaborated on these “I really feel vindicated and I thank God for it. I am so excited and I am happy that I am counted among the number of persons that helped APC to regain government house in Edo state. I am so excited.

“Not only that I am excited, I have also cancelled that negative impression and blackmail that has been flying that Philip Shaibu does not win his ward. It’s a lie.”

“I have never lost my ward. I have never lost my unit. I have always won it. And in the local government, you can see. So, those that have been blackmailing, they can see.”

“Even the governor could not win his local government. I won my unit which is number one now in the state. I won my ward and local government. I took first from my unit to the ward and to the local government.”

He further says “Where is the governor’s result? He has never won. We have always assisted him. But unfortunately, he got the power and he started kicking us and removing the ladder.”

“It is very unfortunate. I hope he learns his lessons. And what is left for him now is to go back and start begging and apologising to the people of Edo state. He has a lot of them that he needs to apologise to.”

“We were 10 (persons) that contested the primary, and out of the 10, he told us to go to hell. The last time I counted, it was 618 key leaders that left PDP for APC.”

It is worth noting that Shaibu made headlines following a tumultuous political saga that saw him ousted from his position as deputy governor in April 2024 due to a rift with Governor Obaseki.

The political landscape shifted once again in July when a federal high court in Abuja intervened, declaring his impeachment unlawful and reinstating his political standing. This ruling not only overturned the previous decision but also reignited Shaibu’s ambitions within the political arena.

Riding the wave of this judicial victory, Shaibu has taken a bold step by switching allegiance to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

This move signals a significant shift in his political strategy, as he seeks to realign himself with a party that could bolster his influence and future prospects.