This is not the best of times for the impeached deputy governor of Edo State, Mr. Philip Shaibu, following the rejection of alleged plans to re-admit him into the All Progressives Congress (APC), by his kinsmen.
Members of the party in Etsako West local government area of the state staged a protest to the party secretariat in the locality on Tuesday against a possible readmittance of the embattled former deputy governor.
It was gathered that the protesters who came from the 12 Wards in the council area, marched to the party secretariat in the locality where they submitted a petition to that effect.
Yakubu Musa who led the protesters said Shaibu’s exit from APC in 2020 brought peace and tranquility in the party.
Musa who presented a communique on behalf of the APC stakeholders in Etsako West LGA, said attempt to enroll Philip Shaibu into APC is a direct invitation to crisis.
“We are protesting over an attempt by the impeached deputy governor Philip Shaibu to jump boat and defect to APC.
“The attempt is viewed seriously by members of APC as a calculated plan by Philip Shaibu to bring rancour, disharmony and unprecedented crisis into APC,” Musa said.
He, however, appealed to the National Chairman of the party, Sen. Abdullahi Ganduje; Senator Adams Oshiomhole and the State Acting Chairman, Jaret Tenebe not to allow the impeached deputy governor into APC, saying that Shaibu has no political value to add to APC.
According to him, “It is on record that Philip Shaibu have not won any election since he left APC to PDP.
“Philip Shaibu does not pocess any electoral value that could warrant his readmittance 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 Edo State.
“Any attempt to enroll Philip Shaibu into APC is a direct invitation to crisis, fragmentation, disaffection, disenchanting and disintegration,” Musa said.
Responding, Musa Ebomhiana, chief press secretary to Philip Shaibu, said the protest was sponsored by some people to embarrass him.
“It was part of the grand plan designed by some individual to embarrass Shaibu and it can’t deter him from wherever he is going, and no body owns the party.”
He said the party is owned by all Nigerians and that nobody can prevent anyone from joining any political party, noting that “the more, the merrier.”
