Politics
Don’t blame Shaibu for PDP misfortune in Edo North, chieftain intervenes
In a stunning turn of events, the ongoing conflict between the Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, and his Deputy, Rt. Hon. Philip Shaibu seems to be escalating into a full-blown crisis casting a dark shadow over the political landscape of the state.
The crisis has been simmering between the two leaders for a while but reached a crescendo when the governor accused his deputy of trying to stage a coup against him after the deputy secured an interlocutory injunct n restraining the governor, House of Assembly, the DSS, and others from initiating impeachment proceedings against him.
The governor through some of his supporters have also accused the deputy governor of being responsible for the crisis and failure of the PDP in the state in recent times.
Reacting to the crisis and allegations, a chieftain of the PDP in Edo North, Chief Moses Aimiomode noted that the crisis is the handiwork of those who feel that the deputy governor is the reason they’ve not benefited from a government they worked to enthrone.
Chief Aimiomode stated that the deputy governor is not the cause of the failure of PDP to win House of Assembly seats in Edo North., a situation he attributed to the absence of the legacy group (Dan Orbih, Pascal Ogbomeh, and others) and the influence of Comrade Adams Oshiomole who is loved by his people “Even the people of Edo South love Oshiomhole too” he stated. The Chieftain noted that these factors were responsible for the loss of seats in the House of Assembly election, coupled with the fact that some of the persons fueling the present crisis were among those who worked against the party in the last election but have now chosen to use the deputy governor as a scapegoat.
“Governor, even those you are appointing as commissioners today joined in voting against our party and ruining the chances of success but today you are empowering them within Edo North as against those who stood firm for the party alongside side your deputy” he noted.
The PDP chieftain noted that the exclusion of the deputy governor from Edo North PDP affairs will further affect the party negatively, especially as the state prepares for a major election in 2024. He noted that the deputy governor remains the only face of PDP in Edo North today and his exclusion will only be to the advantage of the APC which already has a strong presence in the area.
“Governor Obaseki should know by now that his deputy governor is an asset to him and the party. He is not a general that stays at home and commands his officers to go to war. He is a general that stays in front and leads his soldiers to the battleground. Even if you don’t want him to succeed you in office as most governors in the southern part of the country are, there are ways you can cleverly frustrate his efforts without embarrassing him”
He reminded the governor of how his deputy played a great role to ensure his political survival when Comrade Oshiomhole planned to humiliate him. He noted that in doing this, the deputy governor offended his kinsman, Adams Oshiomhole while ensuring that the governor is saved from being disgraced.
He called on the governor and his supporters to listen to the voice of well-meaning Nigerians who have called on them to embrace dialogue as a way out of the present crisis with his deputy, who has always seen him as an elder brother.
Chief Aimiomode said that those drumming and clapping for the crisis were not doing so in the interest of the governor or his deputy, nor for the PDP and the state but are actively doing so as a preparation for the eventual takeover of the state by the APC.
Members of the Lagos State House of Assembly have denied allegations of defecting from the All Progressives Congress (APC) to the Labour Party.
In a statement signed by Mr. Stephen Ogundipe, Chairman of the House Committee on Information, Strategy, and Security, the Assembly members refuted rumors circulating online, claiming that 25 members were planning to leave APC for an unnamed political party. A similar claim surfaced recently, suggesting that 27 members were considering joining the Labour Party due to leadership disputes within the Assembly.
Ogundipe stated that these claims had been unequivocally refuted, with members expressing their unwavering commitment to APC and their confidence in resolving internal issues through established party mechanisms.
“To avoid any confusion, no APC member of the Lagos State House of Assembly is considering defection. As true progressives, we acknowledge that challenges may arise, but we remain committed to addressing them through democratic and lawful processes,” he said.
He added that the party leadership is fully engaged, and any outstanding issues would be resolved amicably. Ogundipe urged the public to disregard the baseless reports designed to mislead and create unnecessary tension.
“We reaffirm our loyalty to the leader of our party and President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu,” Ogundipe concluded, emphasizing that the Lagos State House of Assembly would continue focusing on its legislative duties, enacting laws that promote the development of Lagos State.
Finally, he advised those spreading falsehoods to desist, reaffirming the Assembly’s dedication to its legislative mandate.
The media office of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has dismissed reports suggesting that he is preparing to leave the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for another political platform ahead of the 2027 general elections.
In a statement released in Abuja on Saturday, Atiku’s camp described the rumors as baseless and misleading.
“We have observed that some news platforms are peddling unverified information that former Vice President Atiku Abubakar is abandoning the Peoples Democratic Party,” the statement read.
The former vice president’s media team clarified that Atiku remains committed to the PDP and is actively working on forming a broad coalition to challenge the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2027.
“Atiku is advocating a robust coalition that would accommodate all opposition parties – the PDP inclusive,” the statement added. “It is fallacious and unfounded to allege that the Waziri is jumping the PDP ship.”
The statement further emphasized that Atiku’s focus remains on uniting opposition forces to “rescue Nigeria from the grip of the APC.”
Atiku, who was the PDP’s presidential candidate in the 2023 election, has been vocal about the need for a strong opposition alliance to counter what he describes as the failures of the current administration.
The media office urged Nigerians to disregard speculations about Atiku’s defection, reaffirming that he remains a committed member of the PDP.
The All Progressives Congress (APC) has officially adopted the indirect primary method for selecting its candidate for the November 8, 2025, Anambra governorship election. This decision was announced by the party’s National Secretary, Ajibola Bashiru, after a National Working Committee (NWC) meeting held at the party’s national headquarters in Abuja.
Bashiru stated that the decision aligns with the position of the Anambra State chapter of the APC. He also confirmed that the Abdullahi Ganduje-led NWC will meet with aspirants and stakeholders next Tuesday to finalize the modalities for the primary. Dismissing speculations that the party had already endorsed a preferred candidate, Bashiru emphasized that all seven aspirants remain in contention.
Meanwhile, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is facing concerns over its inability to attract aspirants for the Anambra governorship race. With the deadline for the sale of nomination forms fast approaching, no candidate has yet purchased the party’s N40 million expression of interest and nomination forms.
The PDP had recently expressed confidence in reclaiming Anambra, following a peaceful zonal congress in Enugu, where party leaders unanimously re-elected the Ali Odefa-led executive. However, reports indicate that high costs and internal crises within the party are discouraging aspirants.
With uncertainty surrounding the PDP, aspirants are now turning to alternative platforms such as the APC, Labour Party (LP), and the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) for their governorship ambitions.
As the election race intensifies, political observers will be watching to see how the PDP resolves its internal challenges and whether the APC’s chosen primary process will unify or divide its ranks.
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