Politics

PDP rubbishes Shaibu’s defection to APC, Ganduje boasts of victory in Edo

Published

9 months ago

July 21, 2024

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The membership of the Edo State chapter of the All Progressives Congress swelled on Saturday as the reinstated Deputy Governor of the state, Philip Shaibu, alongside prominent members with their supporters dumped the Peoples Democratic Party.

The decamping, which took place in Benin at the inauguration of the National Campaign Council by the APC National chairman, Abdulahi Ganduje, put an end to several months of speculation over Shaibu’s continuous stay in the PDP.

The deputy governor fell out with Governor Godwin Obaseki over his ambition to succeed his principal and was impeached after he lost to Asue Ighodalo in the PDP primary.

He was, however, reinstated by the court on Wednesday by the Abuja High Court and this has further caused division between Obaseki and him.

Speaking at the event, Shaibu said he was back to add value to the APC.

He said, “On behalf of the Legacy Group, I 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 home boys, are ready to take our state back through the APC governorship candidate, Monday Okpebholo and his running mate, Dennis Idahosa. We are not trouble makers but if it comes, we will use it to rub our body and move on.”

Ganduje, while inaugurating the National Campaign Council of the party for the September 21 governorship election headed by Cross River State Governor, Bassey Otu, received the defectors.

The APC national chairman said since Shaibu was a serving deputy governor, the party had 50 per cent of the people of Edo State.

He disclosed that the party would soon organise a grand rally in Benin to be attended by President Bola Tinubu, saying that the APC governorship candidate, Senator Monday Okpebholo, and his running mate, Dennis Idahosa “are not coming with MOUs but concrete plans to develop Edo State and to connect the state to the centre”.

Also speaking, Oshiomhole, a Senator representing Edo North, lamented that development legacy recorded by his administration in all sectors of the state had not been sustained by the Obaseki’s government.

He said Okpebholo’s major strength is empathy because he contributed millions to boost security in Esan land years back.

Speaking on the recent attack on Shaibu and Okpebholo convoy, which claimed the life of a police inspector, Oshiomhole called on the state Commissioner of Police, Funsho Adeboye to defend the integrity of his uniform by producing the killers of the police officer.

Wishing Shaibu well in the official endeavours, the Chairman of the PDP in the state, Tony Aziegbemi, said those who were calling to join the party after Shaibu’s exit were more than those leaving.

He said, “I wish them good luck in their official endeavours. The PDP cannot be depleted because of this.

“Every vote counts but those who are now coming to us because of his exit are more than those who are leaving the party, so we are good. People have been calling me since he left to say they want to join our party.

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Politics

Your coalition has crumbled — Presidency mocks Atiku as more politicians join APC

Published

3 hours ago

April 25, 2025

Ekwutos Blog

Atiku Abubakar

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Presidential aide, Bayo Onanuga, has claimed that the political ambitions of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar’s have crumbled.

Onanuga believes Atiku’s proposed coalition is falling apart due to the defection of key allies to the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC.

In a post on X, Onanuga criticized the coalition efforts being led by Atiku, which includes a former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, ex-SGF Babachir Lawal, and Labour Party’s vice presidential candidate, Yusuf Baba-Ahmed.

“Atiku’s political future looks bleak. The coalition that he, El Rufai, Babachir, and new member Baba-Ahmed are cobbling together has disintegrated.

“Potential allies, including former running mate Ifeanyi Okowa and defunct CPC members, are giving his leprous group a wide berth. Atiku is a loser again,” Onanuga stated.

Onanuga’s comments followed a similar post by fellow presidential aide Tunde Rahman, who noted that PDP’s internal crisis had deepened with the defection of former Delta State Governor Ifeanyi Okowa and incumbent Governor Sheriff Oborevwori to the APC.

Rahman described the development as “the biggest shocker ever” for Atiku, whose 2023 presidential bid fell short.

Politics

Kenneth Okonkwo Predicts Regret for PDP Defectors, Says 2027 Election Will Be People vs APC

Published

6 hours ago

April 25, 2025

Ekwutos Blog

Kenneth Okonkwo (Andy)

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Nollywood veteran and political commentator, Kenneth Okonkwo, has expressed strong disapproval of the recent wave of defections from opposition parties to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), declaring that those making the move will come to regret it within a year.

Okonkwo’s remarks come in the wake of the high-profile defection of Delta State Governor, Sheriff Oborevwori, his deputy Monday Onyeme, and former Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, along with several commissioners and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) stakeholders, who all officially joined the APC on Wednesday.

Reacting via a post on X, the actor-turned-politician did not hold back, accusing the defectors of abandoning their parties for selfish reasons—chiefly to evade anti-corruption scrutiny and secure personal benefits rather than serve the Nigerian people.

According to him, the ruling party’s alleged incompetence and corrupt practices will worsen economic conditions, increase hunger and suffering, and ultimately lead to widespread discontent among citizens.

“Mark my words,” Okonkwo wrote, “Before one year from now, these spineless, shameless, and corrupt members of the opposition parties who are running into the APC now to escape EFCC and for stomach infrastructure at the expense of the Nigerian economy and Nigerian people will regret their actions.”

He further asserted that the ruling APC’s misgovernance would be so glaring that the 2027 general election would no longer be a typical party contest but a showdown between the Nigerian people and the APC government.