That Edo State deputy governor, Comrade Philip Shaibu, has declared his intention to succeed his principal, Governor Godwin Obaseki in 2024 on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is an established fact.
Shaibu, who has been having a running battle with his boss and political godfather, had also declared to defeat the Governor’s preferred candidate come 2024.
However, Obaseki, speaking on Thursday, November 30th, 2023 in Bauchi after a closed-door meeting with the Chairman of the PDP Governors Forum, Governor Bala Mohammed, said;
“My relationship with Shaibu is cordial. He wants to run for the office I currently occupy and I think, as a Nigerian, he has the constitutional right to run; nobody can stop him.”
“But only the PDP and our members can decide who will become the flagbearer of the party at the gubernatorial election.”
“I’m only one of the millions of party members in Edo State. I don’t think my vote alone will determine who becomes the party’s flagbearer.”
“I hve no preferred candidate among those aspiring to succeed me as my tenure comes to an end.”