The reinstated Deputy Governor of Edo State, Philip Shaibu, recently articulated his perspective on the results of the recent governorship election, asserting that they substantiate his long-held belief regarding the unpopularity of the incumbent Governor, Goodwin Obaseki.
During an appearance on Arise TV on Monday, Shaibu emphasized that Obaseki has consistently depended on external support to secure electoral victories, stating that he has never won an election independently.
The backdrop to Shaibu’s remarks includes his prior disagreement with Obaseki, which arose from his aspirations to contest in the upcoming 2024 gubernatorial election. In this context, Shaibu publicly endorsed the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate.
According to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Senator Monday Okpebholo of the APC emerged victorious in Saturday’s election with a total of 291,667 votes, surpassing Obaseki’s preferred candidate, Asue Ighodalo of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who garnered 247,274 votes.
In response to the election outcomes, Shaibu expressed a sense of vindication and asserted that the results should serve as a critical learning opportunity for the governor. He urged Obaseki to extend an apology to the people of Edo State, particularly to those he has dismissed from his administration.
Shaibu stated, “I am grateful for this outcome. I consider myself a team player and approach my duties with diligence. If I make an error, it is a human mistake rather than a reflection of envy or malice.”
He further expressed his satisfaction with the APC’s success, saying, “I was thrilled to contribute to the APC’s reclamation of the governorship. This achievement disproves the narrative that I cannot secure victories in my ward; I have consistently won there, and the highest votes have come from my constituency.”
Highlighting the governor’s inability to secure victory in his local government, Shaibu added, “I triumphed in my unit, ward, and local government elections, achieving first place at every level. The question remains: where are the governor’s results? He has never won an election on his own; we have always supported him, yet once he attained power, he began to dismiss us.”
Shaibu concluded with a note of disappointment, stating, “This situation is unfortunate, and I hope he learns from it. He should take the initiative to apologize to the people of Edo State, especially to those whom he has wronged.”
