Politics
APC will win Edo guber poll, Philip Shaibu boasts
The reinstated deputy governor of Edo state, Philip Shuaib on Wednesday, boasted that the All Progressives Congress (APC) will take over leadership in the state in the upcoming governorship election.
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Shuaib who recently returned to the APC after his victory at the Federal High Court in Abuja, said this while speaking to journalists at the party headquarters in Abuja.
Speaking after meeting with the ruling party’s National Working Committee (NWC), the reinstated deputy governor said politics is game of numbers and that he, like many others have joined the APC to ensure that the party take over power in Edo State in September 21, 2024.
He stated that, “The chances of APC is getting brighter and better everyday. We left APC to join the PDP to win in 2020. This time, we again, the major factor that left the APC (the state executive of APC and Local Government executives), I can authoritatively tell you now, the same state executives of APC that moved are back to APC. We are back and the election is about numbers, if the game is about numbers, APC numbers are increasing. PDP numbers are depreciating. So obviously those that will win the election are those whose numbers have appreciated, not those who are declining. I can tell you that PDP is gone in Edo State.
“So, we that have left for APC are now making APC stronger. Those in PDP are still there saying the right thing must be done. That Asue Ighodalo is not their candidate. A house divided against itself, you know, will not stand. My short journey to PDP was a terrible experience. I have never been a member of PDP until 2020. I left APC because of the governor and because of the governor again I have left PDP back to my home”, he said.
Speaking on his escapade with the Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki, Shuaib said that he sacrificed everything for the governor but he (Obaseki) treated him like an outcast.
He said despite the situation, as a christain and good Catholic, he is willing to forgive the governor.
“You know human beings have different ways of behaving. And the only person that is perfect is the Almighty God, every other person that is created by God, none of us is perfect. But at the same time, God gave us a commandment like every other country’s constitution. One of the greatest commandment in the world is to love your neighbour as yourself. And if all of us can actually take to that commandment, there will be peace in the whole world.
“I used to see the word perfect relationship. But I have just discovered that there is no perfect relationship with what has happened between the governor and I. From my own end, I gave everything. I gave my all to have him succeed, because for me, it is about the state and the state in everything.
“So, I gave all my earnings even to my official earnings. I forfeited lots of my official entitlement. Why? because I didn’t want any trouble or disagreement.
“Even with my official entitlement, most of them I didn’t even apply for. As small as 28 days, that is the first earning that you earn whether as civil servant or in government, both first and second term, I didn’t have it. I confine myself within the official and salary that comes to me”, he noted.
Shuaib also dismissed reports quoting the state government as asking him to return the 22 official vehicles in his care, saying all the vehicles in his convoy belong to him, except one Jeep the governor bought for him in the third year of their administration.
In his words, “Recently, I saw an advert that said I should return 22 vehicles. Only one vehicle in the seven and half years that the governor bought for my convoy. Only one.
“Every vehicle you see in my convoy, some of them especially the landcruiser, i used for three years. The Prado that I used as back up for three years was the Prado that I used as majority leader of Edo state House of Assembly. The hilux that I was using in the State Assembly and the one I bought when I came to the House of Representatives. It was the third year of his first term that the governor eventually bought a landcruiser jeep and even when they were bringing the landcruiser jeep it had an accident on the way. We had to change the wheels and it took two weeks for us to fix it”.
Barrister Adewole Adebayo, the 2023 Presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in the 2023 general election, apprehensive of massive defection to the party urged defectors to go through legitimate route and due process.
Speaking over the weekend in Abeokuta, Adebayo when he met with SDP members and executive members led by the State Chairman, Yinka Ola-Williams, said the party is open to defectors, but they must do so legitimately.
Flanked by the former Minister of Youth and Sports, Solomon Dalung, the former presidential candidate allayed fears that defectors may hijack the party, stressing that the National Working Committee of SDP can only issue membership cards through the executive at the state levels.
He said, “People are counterfeiting naira, they are counterfeiting the dollar, they’re bringing counterfeit rice, and NAFDAC is chasing counterfeit drugs. Why are you surprised that there are counterfeit party cards? Especially if the party cards are carried by counterfeit politicians who have a history of doing counterfeiting in their former parties. So, we should forgive everybody, but this counterfeiting will not work in SDP.”
“We are not fighting anybody we are only saying ‘come to our house through the front door not through the ceiling or the window.’ That’s all. Everybody here joined the party legitimately, anybody coming will join legitimately”.
“We have spoken to the National Chairman and the NWC, he said there’s no counterfeiting of anything. Any card that’s not given through the state, LG and executives is not from the SDP. So, if they come, you will tell them to go away. Put your name in our register here and pay us here. We will get the card for you. That’s how it is”.
“They want to run faster than their legs. Secondly, you are hearing rumors that people are coming to our party, Awolowo is coming, Azikiwe is coming, Balewa, Ahmadu Bello is coming. Let’s see them. Nigerians know us and they know them.”
He ruled out any plan that SDP would merge or collaborate with the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC or any political party ahead of 2027 general election.
According to him, SDP is committed to the well-being and welfare of Nigerians, while he ruled out insinuations that the party is an appendage of APC.
“Maybe APC has appendicitis; they should go to the hospital to kill it. We are a strong party. We are older than any of the parties available. Our mission is clear: we are not in government with them.
“I led the party in the last election. I’m still standing here. I’m not a minister under Tinubu; all the state chairman and the national chairman are intact, including the national secretary. So, we are standing on our own.
“The reason people look down on us is because we don’t attack people, but we tackle issues because our party is a party of intellect. We are the only party that’s a little to the left. Having been a little to the left since we came in 1989, we remain so.
“The problems of Nigeria can only be found with solutions on the left, which is that chapter two of the Constitution, invest money in education, in housing, in healthcare, good infrastructure, let Nigerians live what chief Obafemi Awolowo called a life more abundant,” he said.
The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, has expressed his heartfelt condolences to the Governor of Katsina State, Malam Dikko Umar Radda, over the passing of his mother, Hajiya Safarau Umar Baribari.
In a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Edwin Olofu, Dr. Ganduje described Hajiya Safarau’s death as a profound loss that has left a deep void in the hearts of her family, friends, and the people of Katsina State.
Extending his sympathies, the APC National Chairman condoled with Governor Radda, the bereaved family, and the entire people of Katsina State during this difficult time.
He acknowledged the remarkable contributions of the late Hajiya Safarau and prayed for Almighty Allah (SWT) to grant her eternal rest in Jannatul Firdaus while strengthening the family to bear this irreplaceable loss.
Dr. Ganduje urged Governor Radda and others affected to find comfort in the cherished memories and enduring legacy of the deceased.
Reaffirming the APC’s support, the former Kano State governor assured the people of Katsina State of the party’s solidarity in their time of grief and prayed that Allah (SWT) grant the departed soul Al-Jannah Firdaus. Ameen.
A coalition of Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) under the aegis of the Centre for Credible Leadership and Citizens Awareness (CCLCA) has expressed strong support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s recent declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State.
On Tuesday, March 18, 2025, President Tinubu invoked a provision of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) to impose emergency rule in Rivers State, citing the prolonged political crisis that had destabilized governance in the state.
By Thursday, both chambers of the National Assembly—the Senate and the House of Representatives—had endorsed the President’s decision, incorporating some additional amendments.
Following this development, the CCLCA has backed Tinubu’s move, emphasizing that it aligns with constitutional provisions.
Addressing journalists in Abuja on Friday, the National Coordinator of the group, Dr. Nwambu Gabriel, described the President’s decision as a necessary and lawful response to a deteriorating political situation that required urgent intervention.
“Today, the Coalition of Civil Society Organizations, committed to advocating for good governance and credible leadership, convened to express our support for the recent declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
“As a civil rights coalition, we stand in affirmation of the recent actions taken by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, as well as the resolutions passed by both the Senate and the House of Representatives concerning the state of emergency in Rivers State.
“The prolonged political turmoil between the executive and legislative arms of government in Rivers State has led to a governance crisis that requires immediate and decisive action. We commend President Tinubu for his bold declaration of a state of emergency aimed at restoring order and ensuring effective governance,” he said.
Justifying the emergency rule, Dr. Gabriel noted that the President acted within his constitutional authority, citing Section 305 of the Constitution, which permits the declaration of a state of emergency in cases where governance is severely compromised.
“The chaotic political environment in Rivers State necessitated such an extraordinary measure,” he asserted.
He further explained that the suspension of Governor Siminalayi Fubara, Deputy Governor Ngozi Odu, and all members of the Rivers State House of Assembly was a necessary step to facilitate the restoration of order.
The CSO coalition also endorsed the Senate’s resolution to invoke Section 11(4) of the Constitution, empowering the National Assembly to establish a Joint Advisory Committee to oversee the administration of Rivers State during this period.
According to Dr. Gabriel, this oversight mechanism is essential for safeguarding the interests of Rivers State citizens and ensuring stability.
“We also welcome the Senate’s suggestion to form a committee of eminent Nigerians tasked with reconciling the conflicting parties within the government of Rivers State. Such an initiative is essential not only for the immediate resolution of the ongoing crisis but also for fostering a more collaborative and effective governance structure in the future.
“The House of Representatives’ affirmation of the state of emergency further reinforces the consensus on the need for urgent intervention. We believe that these measures are in the best interest of the people of Rivers State and Nigeria as a whole,” he added.
Dr. Gabriel, however, called on all stakeholders to work towards a peaceful resolution of the crisis, emphasizing that collective action and dialogue remain key to restoring hope and trust in governance.
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