The reinstated Deputy Governor of Edo State, Philips Shaibu, stated on Friday that he considers himself an unofficial member of the All Progressives Congress (APC). Although still officially a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), he indicated that his affiliation with the PDP was only formal, as reported by PUNCH.
Shaibu explained that his support for the APC governorship candidate in Edo stems from his spirit having already left the PDP.
He emphasized that the constitution allows individuals to support any candidate or political party they choose. He clarified that, while he remains a PDP member in name, his allegiance lies with the APC. He expressed that his only remaining ties to the PDP are formalities, such as his PDP party card, and that he has not yet picked up an APC party card. He stressed that in terms of spirit, he has already shifted to the APC.
He said, “As of now, I’m a PDP man and I will not support anybody while I am in another party contrary to who I am supporting. For now, I am a member of PDP but going forward, I am good as being a member of APC; I can tell you that.
“The only thing that is keeping me in PDP is that I have not officially declared. Talking more seriously, I am actually a member of APC, but on official. My spirit has left PDP for a long time, it is only my leg and body that are still there because my PDP party card is still with me and I have not picked an APC party card yet. But in terms of spirit, my spirit has left PDP and is now in APC.”
Shaibu also recounted that, amidst the political crisis in the state, he had attempted to contact Governor Godwin Obaseki 111 times without receiving a response. He mentioned that despite not receiving replies to his calls or texts, he continued to send messages, the last being on Obaseki’s birthday.
“I had made up my mind not to call him again, but I always send him texts. Before now, when I started counting, I called him (Obaseki) 111 times during that crisis, but he never picked up. I sent him texts, and he never replied, but it never really mattered. The last text I sent to him was on his birthday,” Shaibu said….Seë_Morë