Stakeholders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Etsako West Local Government Area of Edo State have expressed their concerns over impeached former Deputy Governor of Edo State, Hon Philip Shaibu’s attempt to defect to the APC.
In a meeting attended by members of the LGA Executive, Wards Executive Members, and other leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Etsako West Local Government Area of Edo State, they called on APC leaders at the national, state, and local levels, urging them not to entertain Shaibu’s bid to join the party emphasizing the need to preserve the peace and unity currently enjoyed within the APC in Edo State, warning that Shaibu’s inclusion could lead to further division and conflict.
They also describe Shaibu’s purported move as a deliberate ploy to sow discord and chaos within the APC, citing his lack of electoral success since defecting to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in 2020 and his history of instigating internal conflicts within political parties as reasons for rejecting his membership.
According to the stakeholders, Shaibu’s involvement in the controversial midnight inauguration of the Edo State House of Assembly in 2019, which prevented elected APC members from being sworn in, remains a fresh wound for the party. They emphasized that his actions have caused irreparable harm to the APC and its members.
The stakeholders also highlighted Shaibu’s disrespectful behavior towards APC leaders, including the incumbent President, His Excellency Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and the Acting State Chairman of the APC. They stressed that Shaibu’s attempt to join the APC is a direct affront to the party’s integrity and stability.
Furthermore, the stakeholders called on Shaibu to desist from his attempts to join the APC and advised him to focus on his membership in the PDP or explore other political parties if he wishes to defect.
