Comrade Orobosa Omo-Ojo, the publicity director of Senator Monday Okpebholo’s Governorship Campaign Council, has praised Hon. Philip Shaibu for openly endorsing the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the upcoming September election.

This endorsement follows criticism from Olu Martin, the PDP deputy director of the Asue/Ogie Campaign Organisation Council, who condemned Shaibu for supporting an APC candidate while remaining in the PDP and for describing Ighodalo as an outsider.

Omo-Ojo stated, “The All Progressives Congress (APC) wishes to call on Nigerians and Edo State people in particular, to ignore the irritating and baseless call on the immediate past Deputy Governor of Edo State, Rt. Honourable Philip Shaibu, to resign his membership of the drowning Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) because of his open declaration of support for Senator Monday Okpebholo, candidate of the APC.”

He further criticized the PDP for not addressing internal issues, suggesting they should suspend Governor Godwin Obaseki and his running mate Osarodion Ogie for allegedly using state resources to support the Labour Party in the previous general election.

Omo-Ojo said, “Rather than ask Shaibu to resign, the PDP should suspend their outgoing governor, Obaseki, for leading them to political obscurity in Edo State. Comrade Philip Shaibu is an Iroko, a true definition of a homeboy and a political giant in the state, like the APC candidate, Senator Monday Okpebholo.”

Continuing, Omo-Ojo suggested that the PDP join Obaseki and Ighodalo in a tour of the state to seek forgiveness, referencing recent issues such as the leaked examination papers scandal.

He stated, “We are by this statement demanding that Edo State Government should immediately set up an independent panel of enquiry to investigate the circumstances that led to the series of examination questions leakages that have trailed the so-called Edo Best education programme since 2020.”