In a recent press statement signed by Hon. Debo Ologunagba, National Publicity Secretary, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has greatly criticized impeached deputy governor Comrade Philip Shaibu’s return to the All Progressives Congress (APC), describing his move as a discreditable retreat to a party they label as “losing, insensitive, and anti-people.”
The PDP stated that Shaibu’s return to the APC follows his failed attempt to undermine the candidacy of Dr. Asue Ighodalo, the PDP’s nominee for the Edo State governorship.
The PDP’s statement noted that Shaibu’s return to the APC exposes his true allegiance to a “corrupt, malevolent, and oppressive” political faction known for subverting the will of the people. By returning to the APC, Shaibu has validated suspicions about his intentions, demonstrating he was never committed to serving the people of Edo State.
The PDP further criticized Shaibu for lacking a substantial campaign platform and for engaging in disruptive actions during the PDP’s nomination process. They expressed pity for Shaibu, portraying him as a politically isolated figure now facing rejection within the APC, where he has been branded a “political liability” by party members from his local Etsako West Local Government Area.
The statement read in part;
“The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) lampoons Comrade Philip Shaibu on his discreditable return to the losing, insensitive and anti-people All Progressives Congress (APC) after failing in the well-oiled plot to sabotage the Will of the people of Edo State as embodied in the PDP candidacy of Dr. Asue Ighodalo.
“With his return to the APC, Comrade Shaibu has irredeemably sunk deeper into the abyss of rejection; having at last shown his true colours as belonging to the corrupt, malevolent and oppressive political platform that relishes in violence, subverting the Will of the people and inflicting pains on Nigerians.
“By confessing that his heart has always been in, and returning to the rejected APC, which is imperiled by an unqualified candidate; Comrade Shaibu only validates the widespread opinion that he was not in the governorship race to serve the interest and wellbeing of the people of Edo State.
“Nigerians now know why Comrade Shaibu had no tangible campaign manifesto, programme or plan for Edo State but only engaged in actions and utterances aimed to derail the PDP governorship nomination processes and frustrate the Will of the majority of the people of Edo State.
“Our Party has only but pity for Comrade Shaibu for apparently being used and dumped and now on a journey to nowhere as he is currently facing a stiff rejection in the APC where he has been reportedly described as “a complete political liability and highly cancerous politician that must be avoided in order to prevent him from infesting our party (APC) with his ill-fated inordinate, desperate and obnoxious ambition”.
“APC stakeholders from his Etsako West Local Government Area, reportedly stated that “a close assessment of Philip Shaibu’s political participation would reveal him as a man that is politically rancorous and he derives joy in initiating, propagating and sustaining unending crisis in any association or political party he belongs”.
“They also described him as having no electoral value and insisted that his return to the APC is a calculated attempt by him “to bring rancor, disharmony and unprecedented crisis into the All Progressives Congress”.
“What a damning verdict from home! It is therefore not surprising that within 24 hours of Comrade Shaibu’s return to the APC, the PDP Governorship campaign has swelled as more citizens of Edo State, who do not want to be in the same political platform with Comrade Shaibu are now massively declaring support for the PDP and our candidate, Dr. Asue Ighodalo.
“The PDP welcomes democratically-minded and well-meaning members of the APC and other political parties who in their droves are now pitching tents with the PDP and Dr. Asue Ighodalo.
“It is clear that Dr. Asue Ighodalo is the only candidate campaigning with well-thought-out and people-oriented programes and who has the capacity, competence, experience and public acceptability to drive the desire of the people of Edo State for sustained development on the platform of the PDP.”
The PDP then urged Edo State voters to remain steadfast in their support for Dr. Ighodalo in the upcoming September 21, 2024, gubernatorial election.
“The PDP charges the people of Edo State to remain focused in their overwhelming support for the PDP and its candidate, Dr. Asue Ighodalo in the September 21, 2024 governorship election in the State.”