APC Members Protest Alleged Plan For Shaibu’s Defection From PDP

Members of All Progressives Congress (APC), Etsako West chapter, Edo State, yesterday protested against the alleged planned re-admittance of the impeached Deputy Governor of the state, Philip Shaibu, to APC.

Shaibu, who has a running battle with his former principal, Governor Godwin Obaseki, was impeached last Monday by the state House of Assembly.

The protesters, who came from the 12 Wards in the council area, marched to the party secretariat to submit their petition against the alleged proposed re-admittance of Philip Shaibu to APC.

Presenting a communique on behalf of the APC stakeholders in Etsako West LGA, Mr. Yakubu Musa said Philip Shaibu exit from APC in 2020 brought peace and tranquility to the party.

According to him, “His re-admittance into APC would further bring rancour and disunity in the party.

“We are protesting over an attempt by the impeached Shaibu to jump boat and defect back to the APC he left in 2020.

“The attempt is viewed seriously by members of APC as a calculated plan by Shaibu to bring rancour, disharmony and unprecedented crisis into APC.”

Musa, however, appealed to the National Chairman of the party, Abdullahi Ganduje; Senator Adams Oshiomhole and the state acting Chairman of the party, Jaret Tenebe, not to allow the impeached deputy governor into the APC, saying that Shaibu have no political value or vote to add to the APC.

Musa said: “It is on record that Philip Shaibu have not won any election since he left APC to PDP.

“Philip Shaibu does not possess any electoral value that could warrant his re-admittance into our great party.

“We call on our national leaders to hear our voice and help us keep the peace we currently enjoy as APC in the local government and in Edo State.

“Any attempt to enroll Philip Shaibu into APC is a direct invitation to crisis, fragmentation, disaffection, disenchanting and disintegration.”

Responding, Musa Ebomhiana, the chief press secretary to Shaibu, said the protest was sponsored by some people to embarrass him.

“It was part of the grand plan designed by some individuals to embarrass Shaibu, but it can’t deter him from wherever he is going. Nobody owns the party.”

He said the party is owned by all Nigerians and that nobody can prevent anyone from joining any political party, noting “the more the merrier.”