—As Shaibu Formerly Rejoined Party
The National Campaign Council of the All Progressives Congress, APC, on Saturday flagged off the governorship campaign for the September 21 election in Edo state with a vow to dislodge the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, from the Edo state government house through the September election.
The flagged off witnessed the defection of the reinstated Deputy Governor of Edo State, Philip Shaibu, who formally rejoined the APC, from the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.
The deputy governor was accompanied by some prominent members of the Dan Orbih-led Legacy Group of the PDP as he made his return to APC.
Shaibu who walked straight to where former Governor of the state, Senator Adams Oshiomhole, was seated at the venue and knelt down before him, drawing applause from party supporters.
According to Shaibu, “On behalf of the Legacy Group, I wish to announce our movement to the APC. We have come to add value to the party.
“It is time to take back our state. We will not talk too much because action will speak for us. We are not afraid. We are ready to move forward.
“We, the homeboys, are ready to take our state back through the APC governorship candidate, Monday Okpebholo, and his running mate, Dennis Idahosa.
“We are not troublemakers, but if it comes, we will use it to rub our body, and move on.”
Others in the league of decampees are Hon. Omosede Igbinedion, daughter of the PDP leader in Edo South Senatorial District and Esama of Benin Kingdom, Sir Dr. Gabriel Osawaru Igbinedion, Hon Charles Idahosa, Hon. Adjoto, former speaker of the Edo House of Assembly, among others.
Sen. Adams Oshiomhole in his speech said the APC target is to take Edo state from the PDP and retain Ondo state for the party and nothing short of that.
The National Chairman of the party
Alhaji Abdullahi Ganduje while flagging off the campaign urged the leaders of the party in Edo State to work hard by mobilizing Edo voters to ensure the victory of Senator Monday Okpebholo and Dennis Idahosa.
He asked them to avoid anything that could distract them from achieving the party’s objective in Edo state, which is installing Monday Okpebholo and Dennis Idahosa in Edo government house in November this year.
The ceremony which took place at Cathelea Convention and Events Center, at Aiyayo Omoigui Way, Off 2nd Ugbor Road, GRA., Benin City was witnessed by the National and Edo state officers of the party, led by His Excellency, Alhaji Abdullahi Ganduje, national chairman, Edo state APC governorship candidate and his running mate, Senator Monday Okpebholo and Hon. Dennis Idahosa respectively, some governors from APC State, including Ondo and Cross River States, Edo State Acting Chairman of APC, Emperor Jarret Tenebe, among others.
